27-January-2012
Goldstein Media Releases
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Shadow Education Minister Christopher Pyne visited Brighton Library this morning (Friday) to announce a Coalition review of online safety for children.
Andrew Robb, Federal Member for Goldstein and chair of the Coalition’s policy development committee helped arrange the event along with Bayside City Councillor and parent Felicity Frederico.
The Coalition will establish an Online Safety Working Group to assist parents, carers and teachers to better protect children and young people from the risks associated with the internet and social media, including cyber-bullying and online grooming. The working group will be led by Paul Fletcher MP, who has a strong telecommunications background.
Mr Robb said this would be a thorough review and unlike the Gillard government the Coalition was not pretending there was a “silver bullet” and pursuing cyber censorship.
“I believe this is a very important initiative in ensuring children’s safety in the online environment, and will take effective steps toward combating cyber-bullying. At the same time we will not be proposing nanny state solutions like the current government did with its ludicrous and universally rejected mandatory internet filtering proposal,” he said.
Mr Abbott said parents want their children to be safe, but many find they are ill-equipped to protect their children from the pitfalls of the internet and from the risks of social media.
“Some parents understandably feel out of their depth dealing with the pace and multi-faceted nature of technological change. The working group will consult with key technology, education and cyber-safety leaders, parents and young people, as well as other interested parties, to further develop the Coalition’s online safety policy in the areas of education, regulation and enforcement,” he said.
The children and teenagers of today are the first generation of young people that will grow up with the internet and social media as an integral part of the way they live, learn and communicate. It is estimated that 2.2 million Australian children actively engage online.
Today’s online environment extends well beyond accessing websites and email through the family desktop computer. It also includes a range of interactive activities like social networking sites, SMS messaging, Skype, apps and games.
“The children in Brighton Library demonstrated just how proficient Australians are from a young age online and parents, teachers and supervisors have an obligation to take all practical steps possible to ensure they are safe in this environment. This review will assist those efforts,” Mr Robb said.
Over coming months, the Working Group will undertake roundtables and community forums across Australia as well as a series of events online.
The Online Safety Working Group will report back by mid 2012.