“Carly’s law” Bill to stop online predators from lying about their ages to children likely to pass federal Parliament early next year
A LAW designed to target online predators is set to come into force next year.
A LAW designed to protect children from online predators is likely to come into force next year after the mother of murdered South Australian teenager Carly Ryan presented MPs with a petition signed by 93,000 people.
“Carly’s Law” would make it a criminal offence for adults to lie about their ages when communicating with children online.
Offenders could be jailed for between five and eight years.
Nick Xenophon Team Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore yesterday introduced the Carly’s law Bill into Parliament after an earlier version failed to pass before the election.
Carly’s mother Sonya Ryan was in Parliament and showed MPs and senators a change.org petition backing the change.
Ms Ryan was heartened by the fact that the Government and Labor senators had voiced support for Carly’s law.
“It’s 100 per cent my mission to protect children in this space and we desperately need the support of this government to get Carly’s law over the line,’’ Ms Ryan said.
Carly, 15, was murdered by 50-year-old Gary Frances Newman in 2007 after Newman had claimed online to be a 20-year-old musician named Brandon.
NXT senators and Ms Ryan will meet Australian Federal Police and the Attorney-General’s Department to try to iron out technicalities in the Bill before it is voted on in Parliament.
Senator Kakoschke-Moore said the Government was concerned there could be unintended consequences, such as the law criminalising the actions of an 18-year-old man chatting with a 15-year-old girl online and asking if he could attend her birthday party.
NXT Leader Nick Xenophon said Attorney-General George Brandis seemed genuinely committed to resolving issues with the Bill.
Senator Xenophon was hopeful the Bill would pass the Parliament with Coalition and Labor support early next year.
“George Brandis has been terrific on this and so has the Opposition,’’ he said.
Victorian Senator Derryn Hinch, who is co-sponsor of the bill, said laws had failed to keep up with new online technology which was being used by predators to pursue children.
“In recent years magistrates, judges, politicians have been way behind what the internet, electronic media and apps have got to.
“We’re way behind and that’s why we moved today to try and tighten the laws and try and save more children.’’