Greens Demand Stronger Online Safety Protections as Labor Prepares Digital Safety Laws

Labor is set to introduce new digital safety laws, potentially with the support of the Greens, who are demanding stronger protections, including the right to seek compensation for algorithmic harms.

The Coalition remains opposed to the federal government's Digital Duty of Care proposal, one of three major pieces of legislation to be introduced to parliament this week.

Digital Safety Laws

The duty would require social media, search engines, AI chatbots and other online platforms to take reasonable steps to reduce foreseeable "harms" for underage Australians and "serious harm" for adults.

Greens communications spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said she was "willing" to work with the government, but wants it to do more.

"Australians deserve freedom over what appears on their feeds," she said.

Senator Hanson-Young said to "meaningfully" change the behaviour of tech companies, Australians who have been harmed online must be able to take "legal action and seek compensation for damage done".

"Enforcement of the Digital Duty of Care cannot be left to the eSafety Commissioner alone," she said.

"To really put Australians' online safety at the heart of this reform, individuals and the community need to have the right to take on big tech through a private right of action."

Senator Hanson-Young said there must be serious consequences for social media companies who breached the duty, arguing the proposed fines of about $100 million were not enough.

"Fines for breaches must be tied to a percentage of global revenue," she said.

Government Response

A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government was finalising the bill based on feedback from 225 submissions, 22 roundtable briefings and 60 one-on-one meetings about the proposal.

"The overwhelming message we heard was that Australians want a Digital Duty of Care to protect young people and hold big tech to basic standards, just like every other industry," she said.

Coalition Opposition

Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson accused Labor of seeking to suppress "lawful voices" under the "masquerade of online safety".

"Protecting children should never become an excuse to give politicians sweeping powers over what Australians can say, read or debate online," she said.

Trust Tax Changes

The government is also expected to introduce a minimum 30 per cent tax on distributions from discretionary trusts this week, which the Coalition is opposing primarily due to concerns about the impact on small businesses.

A spokesman for Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the changes were to make the tax system "fairer" and fund income tax cuts for workers.

"The legislation will include options to limit or completely eliminate restructuring costs, as well as the rollover relief we flagged at budget time," the spokesman said.

But Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson said the government should abandon the minimum tax entirely or at least undertake further consultation.

"Small and family businesses and farmers who use trusts want one thing from this government: certainty, so they can get on with backing themselves, investing and creating jobs," he said.