The prime minister has made a surprising jump when there are huge doubts about a workable social media ban for children. But Australia does have a real problem.
Anthony Albanese has leapt into a social quagmire with a shiny new proposal to spare children from online harm – and he is leaping to the conclusion that voters will thank him.
One essential fact, however, is that Australia has a genuine problem. Public data has shown an increase in mental health hospitalisations and psychological distress among young people. The increase is worst among women and girls aged 16 to 24.
Even so, this is a bad time to add yet another challenge to the government’s agenda. Labor is dragging out a decision on new controls on gambling advertising, struggling to get a deal in parliament on Reserve Bank reform and waiting for the Coalition to commit to a new aged care funding package. Rather than show progress on these fronts, Albanese comes up with a new idea to add to the to-do list.
There is not even an agreement on the best age to define as the legal limit. Albanese suggested 16 in a radio interview on Tuesday, in line with Dutton’s proposal in June. Malinauskas suggests 14. This simply confirms that the policy is a general proposal, not a blueprint for change.
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