Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I'm very happy to answer a question about the safety of our children. Thank you, Senator Smith, for asking this question. I think all of us know the extent to which this is an issue that parents are really concerned about, and parents are looking for leadership, for guidance and for help in how all of us manage what is a pretty tricky thing to negotiate or to put boundaries around with our children. I'm sure you have found that this is something parents and grandparents raise with you.

We know that social media can cause social harm and is taking kids away from real friends and experiences. More importantly, we know that early access to social media can be very detrimental for young people's mental health and physical health. People want real solutions, and we as a government believe that working for the safety of our children is paramount. That's why, today, the Prime Minister has announced we will introduce legislation to enforce a minimum age for access to social media and other relevant digital platforms. That legislation will be informed by engagement with states and territories.

I acknowledge the role of Peter Malinauskas, the Premier of South Australia, who has been engaging with not only his community but also the Prime Minister on this issue. I'm very pleased that that has resulted in the announcement the Prime Minister has made. As Premier Malinauskas has said, the work South Australia has done is important but we need a nationwide solution. It is a Commonwealth—