Skye Kakoschke-Moore (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Minors Online) Bill 2017, and I commend the government for working with the Nick Xenophon Team to bring this bill before the parliament. I also thank my Senate colleagues from the ALP, the Greens and the crossbench that this bill is being able to be dealt with today as part of non-controversial government business.

This bill proposes to introduce a new criminal offence relating to the use a carriage service to prepare or plan to cause harm to, engage in sexual activity with, or procure for sexual activity, children under the age of 16. Crucially, the act of preparing or planning includes an adult lying about their age over the internet to a child under the age of 16 as part of that plan to harm that child. I cannot envisage a legitimate purpose for somebody over the age of 18 to ever lie about their age online to a child. Having a law that reflects the unacceptability of that behaviour is an important thing to have on our statute books. The significance of this proposed legislation cannot be overstated. The new law will make it easier for police to intervene sooner and for online predators to be prosecuted. This fills the gap in the current Criminal Code and allows police to intervene earlier when a predator is planning or preparing to cause harm to a child, including when they are lying about their age.

But let us not forget why this bill is so necessary: we are here today debating this bill because of Carly Ryan who lost her life 10 years ago to an insidious online predator. Since then, her mother Sonya has advocated tirelessly for this bill to come to fruition and has pioneered education and awareness of online safety for children, to protect children and prevent what happened to Carly happening to any other child.

Sonya is here in the Senate chamber today to witness the passage of this bill. I pay the highest respect to you, Sonya, for your advocacy, working alongside the Nick Xenophon Team, to achieve this outcome today and for your advocacy in protecting children.

Sonya has been an outstanding voice, representing children who are unable to speak for themselves. Her aim is to give every child the opportunity to have a positive experience online, and to have good connections and relationships and stay safe from those intending to cause them harm.

Sonya has worked with police in all states and specialised task forces to protect children from predators, especially in the online space. Sonya has said repeatedly that law enforcement officers have told her that they could be using the proposed legislation right now to prevent harm against children by predators, and this bill will mean they finally can.

Finally, I say this to you Sonya: thank you. Thank you for turning your unspeakable pain and loss into such a powerful and life-changing campaign. You are an inspiration in the true sense of the word. Thank you.