SA Best pledges to introduce stricter Carly’s Law to state Parliament after March election

ADULTS who lie about their age online and arrange to meet children would face jail under stricter laws proposed by SA Best, and matched by Labor.

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ADULTS who lie about their age online and arrange to meet children would face jail under stricter laws proposed by SA Best, and matched by Labor.

The pledge comes on the eleventh anniversary of the death of Adelaide teenager Carly Ryan, who was murdered in 2007, aged just 15, by a much older man who pretended to be a 20-year-old musician online.

Carly Ryan was murdered by an internet predator in 2007.

Carly’s mother, Sonya Ryan, has called on the Labor and Liberal parties to also commit to strengthening the state’s laws, regardless of who forms government after next month’s election.

Education and Child Development Minister Susan Close said Labor would support introducing Carly’s Law to state legislation.

“The State Labor Government has supported the Carly Ryan Foundation to develop the “Thread” personal safety app, and provided $660,000 over the next three years to continue

the foundation’s important work in schools across South Australia,” Dr Close said.

“We look forward to seeing Mr Xenophon’s legislation.”

Ms Ryan, who established the Carly Ryan Foundation in her daughter’s memory, said today would be a “tough day” but she would focus on the time she shared with Carly because her daughter was “so much more than what happened to her”.

Mid last year, federal MPs passed Carly’s Law, which made it an offence to lie about your age online and arrange to meet a minor with the intention of committing a crime against them. There is a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

The proposed state version, which echoes a previously unsuccessful attempt by Advance SA MP John Darley in 2013, would create a separate offence, carrying a maximum five-year penalty, for lying about your age online and arranging to meet a minor.

Ms Ryan said the federal law was more difficult to enforce because “police must still prove that there is intent to commit harm”.

“How many police are investigating people using fake identities to talk to a young person online now, and why do they have to wait until that person potentially wants to commit a crime?” she said.

“Any logical person would feel a little bit strange about somebody lying about their age and identity online to talk to their child.”

Sonya Ryan wants to strengthen “Carly’s Law”. Picture: Tait Schmaal

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon has pledged to introduce the stricter version of Carly’s Law if the party wins seats.

Ms Xenophon also committed to pushing for funding for all Year 6 students to do a school education program run by the Carly Ryan Foundation, but could not say how much that would cost.

The Project Connect program runs seminars for students in Years 5 to 12, covering topics including online safety, emotional intelligence, how to deal with image-based abuse, understanding the law and empowerment.

SA Best’s broader e-safety policy also proposes to empower the state’s Children’s Commission to conduct mediation between cyber bullies and victims and refer certain cases to police.