Media Release

Industry partners to boost Cybersmart.gov.au awareness

Key internet and children’s advocacy organisations have joined Government to link Australian children, parents and teachers with expert cyber-safety advice.

Bravehearts, Child Wise, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Google and YouTube Australia, MySpace and Telstra are the first organisations committing to promote the Cybersmart.gov.au web site.

"The internet offers a world of opportunity for young people but it is important that they are empowered to confront online problems such as cyber-bullying, inappropriate content and invasions of privacy," the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said.

"Cybersmart.gov.au sets the benchmark for cyber-safety advice and targeted information for Australian children, parents and teachers."

The Minister today extended an invitation to organisations, particularly those involved with youth, to promote the CyberSmart website by prominently displaying links on their own websites.

"It is important that the Government, industry and the community work together to understand these issues, develop solutions and ensure a safer digital environment for young people," Senator Conroy said.

"My recent meetings with the Youth Advisory Group on cyber-safety highlighted the requirement for a central source of cyber-safety assistance and Cybersmart.gov.au helps address this need."

A new report commissioned by the Rudd Government has confirmed the Government’s view on the need for a comprehensive approach to cyber-safety.

Senator Conroy today published the Edith Cowan University report, ‘Review of Existing Australian and International Cyber-safety Research’. The report was commissioned as part of the Government’s $125.8 million comprehensive cyber-safety plan.

Key finding of the report include:

• Cyber-grooming and sexual solicitation are potentially the most serious cyber-safety risks.
• Cyber-bullying is emerging as a significant risk to young people.
• 10% of Australian children report cyber-bullying behaviour, however international prevalence rates of around 50% have been reported.
• Cyber-bullying research is still new and little is known about the motivations of perpetrators as well as the long-term effects.
• 84% of boys and 60% of girls in Australia claim they have been accidentally exposed to pornography online.
• There are significant gaps in many areas of cyber-safety research, particularly about Australian conditions.

"The Edith Cowan report provides a useful basis for future research to inform the Government’s responses," Senator Conroy said.

"This report will complement the important work of the Consultative Working Group and Youth Advisory Group and will also assist the cyber-safety initiatives of the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Australian Federal Police."

The report is available online: http://www.dbcde.gov.au/online_safety_and_security/cybersafety_plan/research

The Rudd Government’s $125.8 million cyber-safety plan includes a comprehensive range of measures such as:

• $49 million for an additional 91 AFP online child protection officers,
• $11.3 million for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions,
• education and information,
• resources such as help-lines and the CyberSmart website (www.cybersmart.gov.au),
• ISP filtering,
• consultative arrangements with industry, children and child protection bodies, and
• research to identify possible areas for further action.

Date: 11 September 2009
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457