Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Ronaldson, move:

(1)

The following matter be referred to the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee for inquiry and report by 23 June 2008:

The sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment, including radio and television, children’s magazines, other print and advertising material and the Internet.

(2)

In undertaking the inquiry, the committee, in particular:

(a)

examine the sources and beneficiaries of premature sexualisation of children in the media;

(b)

review the evidence on the short- and long-term effects of viewing or buying sexualising and objectifying images and products and their influence on cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, sexuality, attitudes and beliefs; and

(c)

examine strategies to prevent and/or reduce the sexualisation of children in the media and the effectiveness of different approaches in ameliorating its effects, including the role of school-based sexuality and reproductive health education and change in media and advertising regulation such as the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice and the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice.