Federal Government Remains in Bed With Big Porn

The Albanese Labor Government has turned its back on Australia’s youth by refusing to implement the eSafety Commissioner’s recommendation of a mandated trial of age assurance technology to combat underage consumption of online pornography.

Labor has made absolutely zero progress on these recommendations since they were released last year, with proposals requiring digital platforms to take essential steps to identify under-aged users and prevent them from being able to access harmful materials online.

The Government’s astonishing refusal to support or even trial these necessary recommendations has since led to damning critiques from leading advocates of women and children’s safety.

Sunshine Coast MP, Andrew Wallace is a longtime advocate for online child safety, and chaired the landmark inquiry into age verification for online wagering and pornography, which delivered the Protecting the Age of Innocence Report. Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Wallace reiterated his calls for legislation to trial age assurance technology – legislation presented by the Coalition at the end of 2023.

The Deputy Chair of Parliament’s powerful intelligence and security committee said Labor is continuing to back the pornography industry over the interests of Australian children, in the face of bipartisan support, advocacy from leading child safety organisations and the expert advice of the eSafety Commissioner.

“We know that age-assurance technology works. Yet Labor insists that allowing the porn industry to develop its own codes will fix the problem. It’s like putting Dracula in charge of the bloodbank, and it’s Australian kids who’ll pay the price.”

“We know that viewing pornography in childhood and adolescence can severely distort a child’s understanding of consent, relationships, and healthy sexuality. Nearly half of all boys have viewed pornography by the age of 13.

Without action on children’s access to porn, we risk raising a generation of men with blurred boundaries when it comes to relationship-building and sexual violence.”

“This isn’t a political matter – it’s an issue of women’s safety and basic human decency. Kids shouldn’t be able to stumble on porn. Young women deserve better than a generation of men addicted and perverted by hardcore, violent pornography. It’s time the Prime Minister pull his party into line, step out from the shadows of the big porn industry, and simply do what’s right.”

The Fisher MP has supported the Coalition’s roadmap to fast track a trial of age verification technology within the next three months which will safeguard our children and demonstrates an unwavering commitment towards the safe development of the next generation of Australians.