Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The proposal to enforce age verification is a digital overreach of epic proportions. The government is asking all platforms to store your sensitive data, whether they be a secure tech giant or a sketchy looking forum. The government has put up amendments to exclude government ID, but how our biometric data will be treated is anyone's guess. Let's be real; kids will find ways around it. VPNs, fake accounts, borrowing mum's phone—these are easy workarounds that render the policy ineffective from the get go. What Australians need is a robust policy that actually addresses online safety, not an ill-conceived idea that puts everyone's privacy on the line.

To those under 16 who are being targeted by this policy, let me say this: Your voice matters, even if this government doesn't seem to think so. Shutting you out of social media is not the answer to the challenges it poses. Social media is where you express yourself, connect with friends and even learn new skills. When someone drowns we do not outlaw water. We may put up fencing around the pool or tell people to swim between the flags where lifeguards can see them. We do not fill a pool with concrete or lay landmines along Scarborough Beach. Rather than bluntly revoking access to social media, we should be focusing on teaching digital literacy, enhancing protections and investing in mental health support. The truth is this so-called ban will fail. It will drive activity underground, making it harder, not easier, to address the real concerns presented by cyberbullying and other harmful content. So let's call on the government to hit pause, scrap this rushed bill and consult widely. Craft a policy that protects young people's safety and their rights. You deserve solutions, not scapegoating.