Launch of NetAlert Information Campaign

The Memory Grid – Federation Square

Senator the Hon Helen Coonan

Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Sunday 2 September 2007

Introduction

Good Morning Everyone.

Before we get onto business, it is important that we wish all the fathers a very Happy Fathers’ Day.

So, Happy Fathers’ Day to you all.

It is a pleasure to be here this morning to launch the NetAlert – Protecting Australian Families Online information campaign.

NetAlert is the most ambitious and far-reaching programme ever developed to address issues of online safety.

It is an ambitious, world-leading initiative that presents a collaborative approach to dealing with protecting children online.

Today is the first day of National Child Protection Week, so there is no better time to talk about internet safety and protecting our children online

Internet and opportunity

The internet is indeed a window on the world and has transformed the way we communicate.

Properly harnessed, the World Wide Web has enormous potential as a tool for education, entertainment, interaction and global engagement.

However, much like the ‘real world’, there is a lot online that you would not want your children to see or do.

Pornography, and other offensive or inappropriate material, can be just a mouse few clicks away, and not everyone you meet online can be trusted.

The information campaign

The $22 million NetAlert information campaign aims to increase the public’s awareness about the potential risks online.

Importantly, it is also to inform the parents, grandparents and carers of children about internet safety and how to get support and assistance when it is needed, from services the Government has available.

The campaign includes print, television and radio advertising.

And, in following weeks, every Australian household will receive an information booklet providing practical online safety information and what parents can do to protect their families online.

 Research supporting the information campaign

In developing the information campaign, we have drawn on research commissioned by the Government which gives an idea of what is really happening online from the perspectives of both parents and young people.

For example, 40 per cent of children who chat online said they had been contacted by someone they didn’t know.

Thirty-nine per cent of children said they had put a photo of themselves online.

One in five children aged 13 to 17 said they had seen or heard people bullying or abusing other people online.

And more than half of teenagers surveyed said they had visited websites they knew their parents would have preferred them not to.

With this research and with this campaign we aim to shine the light on a world that some parents are only vaguely aware of.

And, we are providing parents, grandparents and carers of children with the tools to tailor their child’s internet experience.

NetAlert – a holistic approach

Importantly, we must recognise that there is no  single solution to potential dangers online. There is  no silver bullet.

The Australian Government has developed the $189 million NetAlert – Protecting Australian Families Online program as a multi-faceted response that combines real practical help with technology, education, tough regulation and policing to ensure that Australian families can get the best of the internet, whilst minimising potential harm.

In developing this programme, we have also recognised the importance of empowering parents to manage their children’s online activities safely, in line with their own family values.

Never has parenting been more important but when it comes to supervising online, we recognise people need help, advice and support.

National Filter Scheme

An element of NetAlert is the $85 million National Filter Scheme which will provide access to the best available internet filtering technology, free to every Australian family through personal computer or ISP-based filtering and for public libraries.

Law enforcement and prosecution

NetAlert also includes $43.5 million over four years additional funding for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to combat online child sex exploitation.

And, to deal with the increased activity of the AFP’s Online Child Sex Exploitation Team (OCSET), the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions will receive $1.4 million in year one and $2.8 million each year thereafter.

 The Australian Government will also lead a Consultative Working Group comprising government, education, community and industry representatives to better understand the use of social networking sites for predatory contact with children.

This group will assess the adequacy of current measures for dealing with online predators; and will be required to suggest additional measures to be put in place to help protect children from online predators.

Increased regulation

On the regulation front, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will receive $7.1 million to increase its capacity to investigate illegal or inappropriate online content and to expand the ACMA Blacklist of websites hosted overseas which carry illegal content.

This is particularly important because the ISP-level filtering to be introduced will be based on the ACMA Blacklist.

A lot of offensive content is hosted overseas, so Australia will take a leadership role in finding new and more effective ways to work with other countries to agree on classification standards and complaints investigation for internet content. 

 Program of support, education and awareness

In addition to the $22 million allocated to the information campaign, more than $9.2 million has been allocated to NetAlert to provide internet safety advice through a helpline and website.

And finally, many of you will be aware of the NetAlert ACMA School Outreach Programme which gives practical hands-on advice to parents, teachers and other carers of children through information sessions held for schools and community groups.

This programme has been allocated an additional $11.7 million over four years, which will effectively treble the impact of this programme.

Conclusion

Our children are our most precious asset.

I cannot overstate my commitment, nor the determination of the Howard Government to protect our children from exposure to inappropriate online content or predatory contact.

And I am in no doubt that this programme puts Australia well and truly in front with a sophisticated and strategic response to online child protection.

I want to thank you all for attending this launch and for spreading the important messages that will help protect Australian families online.

But now I have an exciting announcement.

That is, the role of Parent Ambassador for NetAlert – Protecting Australian Families Online.

He is a famous Australian, a former Olympian and one of our living treasures, but most importantly, particularly as today is Fathers’ Day, he, along with his wife Samantha, is the parent of two children.

I am very pleased to announced that Kieran Perkins will join me in travelling around Australia as the Parent Ambassador for NetAlert—Protecting Australian Families Online.

I thank Kieran for his commitment to children’s safety.

Kieren has taken a great interest in this role and we are very pleased to have him with us.

I would like to invite Kieran to say a few words.

Thank you.