The Albanese Government and the Independent Reviewer are today opening public consultation on how we can strengthen our world-leading Online Safety Act to keep Australians safe.
Announced in November 2023, the independent Review is being conducted by Ms Delia Rickard PSM and will be a comprehensive examination of our existing laws.
The Government brought forward the commencement of the Review to 2024 from 2025 to ensure the eSafety Commissioner has the tools necessary to keep Australians safe.
Since her appointment, Ms Rickard has been engaging with academics, civil society, and Government departments including Home Affairs, the Attorney General's Department and relevant agencies like the eSafety Commissioner to determine key issues, the scope of the Review, and the public consultation process.
The Review is considering the effectiveness of the current framework, including whether more powers are needed to address new and emerging harms.
The Review is also examining options to reduce harms caused by online hate, as well as new harms raised by emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence.
The Issues Paper raises a number of other matters including:
- what further steps can be taken to ensure industry acts in the best interests of children;
- whether existing penalties and enforcement powers are fit for purpose;
- whether laws and regulations that deal with online content and harms are accessible and easy to understand; and
- international developments in online safety regulation, including whether the law should be amended to impose a new duty of care on digital platforms towards their users.
Feedback from Australians will help shape the outcome of the review and ensure recommendations are informed by online experiences and expectations of the community.
The Final Report of the review will be provided to the Government by 31 October 2024.
