In her first major address as the Minister for Women, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer said she was “personally invested” in making the internet safer and would be meeting regularly with the industry’s tech giants to protect children.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra last Tuesday, O’Dwyer said 80% of the image based abuse reports coming into the government’s eSafety Office are from young women, 40% of whom are under the age of 18.

“Through the age of the internet and the almost universal access to mobile technology, we are living through unchartered social times, where young children can be exposed to all manner of dangers that can potentially scar them permanently; from cyber-bullying, identity theft, pornography, sexual predators; to the hyper-sexualisation of young girls, right through to perceived addiction to mobile phone use,” she said.

“We need to think carefully about ways we can limit the harm to children without undermining the benefits online technology brings.”

O’Dwyer said she’s be working closely with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to examine “innovative ways” to make cyber space safer.

“This is not about censorship, nor about governments seizing control of the internet; it is about making sure our laws and safeguards and other protections are responsive to rapidly changing technology and usage.

“We know perpetrators of violence against women are using technology to control, coerce, stalk and harass their victims.

“I have asked Kate Jenkins, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, and Julie Inman-Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, to join me in regular meetings with Facebook, Google, Twitter, Microsoft and Instagram,” she said.

The government recently introduced legislation to address the non-consensual sharing of intimate images (also known as ‘revenge porn’).

“The Bill strengthens the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to get images removed and for the first time introduces civil penalties of up to $105,000 for individuals and up to $525,000 for corporations,” said O’Dwyer.

Opposition Minister for Women and Deputy of the Opposition, Tanya Plibersek. Photo: Roulla Yiacoumi

Opposition Minister for Women and Deputy of the Opposition, the Hon Tanya Plibersek, addressed the National Press Club the following day, focusing on gender equality.

“Australia is no longer at the forefront of technology,” she said, adding it wouldn’t be until 2046 when we Australia would have gender equality in Parliament.

“It’s absolutely not right that 35% of young girls think that their gender is a barrier to career in politics,” she said.

Plibersek also spoke about pay equality, violence against women, and women’s superannuation shortfalls.