The Greens have condemned Labor and the Liberals for smashing the Social Media Age Ban Bill through parliament this week.
The Greens had urged the Albanese Government to allow for proper consultation and scrutiny of Labor's legislation, with many experts including health professionals, saying the blunt ban would have serious negative consequences for young people and recommending other measures to make social media safer for everyone.
Sarah Hanson-Young is spokesperson for Communications & Senator for South Australia:
"It is a disgrace that Labor teamed up with Peter Dutton to ram the social media age ban bill through the parliament this week.
"Parents are rightly concerned and we all agree something needs to be done to make tech platforms safer, but this was not the way to do it.
"There is no excuse for rushing this bill through and racing Peter Dutton to the bottom - it won't even commence for 12 months.
"It is a sham bill that's been through a sham process. It is a piece of legislation that doesn't do what the PM or Peter Dutton say it will do - it won't make young people safer online and doesn't make social media safer for anyone.
"What we've witnessed this week is boomers trying to tell young people how the internet should work. Yet these boomers clearly have no idea how young people engage with the internet.
"This bill might make oldies feel like they've done something but in reality it only delivers a false sense of security. Young people will be pushed to darker spaces on the web and regional, marginalised and vulnerable kids will be further isolated.
"Instead, the parliament should have supported the Greens' duty of care amendment, and implemented measures that address the dangerous and predatory business models of the tech giants.
"The passage of this law is a world-leading failure by the PM and Peter Dutton."
Senator Hanson-Young's speech in the Senate last night here.
