SA Premier in last-ditch call to action on social media age limits

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has written to Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton in an attempt to rescue his plan for social media age limits.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a campaign rally with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas in Adelaide on November 3. Picture: Matt Turner

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has issued a last-ditch call to rescue his plan for social media age limits, writing to Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton saying the political mainstream must unite over the protection of children.

As the first Australian leader to advocate the change, Mr Malinauskas partnered with NSW Premier Chris Minns to hold a ­social media summit earlier this year that identified mass evidence of harm towards young people through the unfettered use of social media.

He also enlisted retired High Court judge Robert French to review laws around social media use, with a key recommendation being a minimum age limit of 14 for young people to use Facebook and other platforms.

With some Liberals now threatening to walk away from bipartisanship on the issue, Mr Malinauskas said both sides of politics should come together to back the change. In his letter, he says the fact the Greens and One Nation are against it should galvanise Labor and the Liberals in their support.

“When we see products doing children harm, whether it be drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, governments have a role to play,” he writes. “Social media is no different. Regrettably, the parties of the far left and the far right have stated they will oppose this bill. While the extreme ends of politics are opposed to this change, it is time for mainstream political parties to work together for the common good.

“As leaders of the two major political parties in this country, there is an opportunity to protect our children and, importantly, support Australian parents.”

Mr Malinauskas also urges the issue be resolved with support this week, saying it could drag into next year and even be left until the next parliament if this ends up being the final sitting week before the election. “This is an issue of the utmost urgency which cannot be kicked into next year or the next parliament,” he writes. “The time to act is now.”