Albanese government’s online safety ’talkfest’ slammed amid push for new laws

The Albanese government has put social media’s relationship with youth crime on the agenda - but already the move is copping criticism.

The Albanese government is hosting a roundtable looking into children posting and boasting about crime on social media despite refusing to support a bill outlawing the practice.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the event is slated for June 28 and will see the government sit down with tech giants and stakeholders to discuss the issue of young kids posting about committing crimes on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and Facebook.

The event, which had not yet been announced by the government, will include representatives of digital platforms and police representatives.

The event will be led by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and will include remarks from Communication Minister Michelle Rowland.

But the opposition has slammed the move saying the government refused to support their bill — which would make it a crime to post about a crime on social media — but is now hosting a “talkfest” about the issue.

Young people breaking into a house and stealing a car, posting a video of their crime on TikTok.

The Coalition legislation, which was introduced to parliament on March 25, aimed to make a new federal law that will jail people for up to two years if they post crime videos for the purpose of gaining online notoriety.

It would also allow courts to ban people from using social media and give the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers.

Dubbo has faced a wave of youth crime in which the culprits boast about their crimes online. Picture: Facebook

“This government loves committees and roundtables, but what we need is action not words. Holding another talkfest is not action,“ Coalition communication spokesman David Coleman said.

“This is a political stunt designed to make it look like the Government is doing something, but they are just dragging things out and being soft on crime.

“Backing tough legislation that targets the perpetrators is what’s needed.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government will hold a roundtable on the issue, but the response has been labelled a “talkfest”. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Minister Rowland said the roundtable was a crucial way to “further discuss collective actions” on ensuring Australians are safe online.

“We are taking decisive action on a number of fronts to minimise online harms and boost the transparency and accountability of online platforms,” she said.

“I recently amended the Basic Online Safety Expectations (BOSE) Determination to better address new and emerging online safety harms with a clear focus on better protecting young people and children.“

Ms Rowland has also brought forward the review of the Online Safety Act.