Coalition Senators' dissenting report

Introduction

1.1Coalition senators support measures which improve the online safety of Australian children and young people. The Coalition has consistently advocated for stronger protections, higher accountability for platforms and clear rules to minimise access to harmful content by minors.

1.2Coalition senators do not support Recommendation 1 of the report by the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee (Committee) which proposes the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) obligation be delayed until 10 June 2026.This delay is not justified nor is it in the best interests of Australian families.

1.3Coalition senators remain concerned about implementation failuresrelating to the SMMA laws for which the Albanese government and the Minister for Communications are directly responsible, but this does not justify delaying the commencement date which would cause further confusion and uncertainty.

Poor communications

1.4The Albanese governmenthas had more than 12 months since the passage of the SMMA legislation to prepare, communicate and coordinate the implementation of the social media ban for children aged under 16.The decision to launch a public awareness campaign on 14 October 2025, less than two monthsbefore the commencement date, represents a failure to plan by the Minister for Communications.

1.5The Committee’sreport correctly raises concerns that young people have been left unprepared as there has not been an adequate education program rolled out to young people who will be cut off from their online communities.[1]

1.6The Government must take responsibility for this failure to adequately communicate this very considerable change in the law which will detrimentally impact on many young people.Notwithstanding, this cannot be used as an excuse to delay measures to improve children’s online safety.

1.7The SMMA laws were designed with a twelve month lead-in period to enable platforms, schools, parents and regulators to prepare and a further six month delay creates additional risk at a time when Australian children are increasingly exposed to violent material, harmful content and predatory contact.

Digital ID

1.8Coalition senators note that the Albanese government has repeatedly assured Australians that the SSMA obligations will not require them to use digital ID or government identification.

1.9A fact sheet issued by the Minister for Communications’ department states clearly that ‘no Australian will be compelled to use government identification (including Digital ID) to prove their age online, and platforms must offer reasonable alternatives to users’.[2]

1.10Public messaging has also reinforced this position. In a radio interview discussing claims the SMMA laws were, in effect, a Digital ID scheme, Prime Minister Albanese reiterated the Government’sopposition against the use of a Digital ID.[3]

1.11Evidence to the Committee demonstrated some platforms intend to rely on government identification when their initial, non-intrusive age-assurance methods are inconclusive.[4]Meta confirmedit uses government identification as a fallback – ‘people are given the option of either a video selfie … or government ID’.[5]This is inconsistent with the Government’s stated position and has contributed to community confusion.

1.12The Committee also heard that the recommended ‘waterfall approach’ starting with the least intrusive age assurance method, and escalating only when necessary, is not being consistently implemented by platforms, despite being identified as best practice during the Age Assurance Technology Trial.[6]

1.13Coalition senators remain concerned there is a gap between the Albanese government’s assurances and the approaches proposed by some platforms.This risks undermining public trust. These issues require clear and immediate guidance, not a delay to the implementation of child safety measures already passed by the Parliament.

Privacy concerns

1.14Privacy risks raised during evidence are real, but they stem from Australia’s outdated privacy framework and the Albanese Government’s failure to legislate long-promised reforms with some witnesses warning ‘Australia’s existing privacy framework has never been fit for purpose’.[7]

1.15Coalition senators agree that privacy preserving methods should be prioritised by measures such as strengthening the Privacy Act, finalising Digital ID legislation and correcting Government guidance, not by suspending age protections designed to keep 15 year olds off platforms that host violent content, pornography and predatory contact.

Push to unregulated platforms

1.16The Committee’s report acknowledges the risk that banning social media access without proper management could drive young people toward even less safe platforms.

1.17Coalition senators assert this risk exists now and delays will worsen the risk by keeping children on platforms with weak protections, and we must ensure platform compliance and Government preparedness, not shelve the commencement date.

Conclusion

1.18Coalition senators support the intent of the SMMA legislation and stronger online safety regulations.

1.19Coalition senators oppose Recommendation 1 and instead call on the Albanese government to fix its implementation failures, provide proper communication to families and ensure platforms meet their responsibilities under the law.

Footnotes

[1]See, Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, Internet Search Engine Online Safety Code and under 16 social media ban, October 2025, p. 50.

[2]Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Social Media Minimum Age – Fact sheet, p. 1.

[3]The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister, ‘Radio interview - Nova Sydney’, Transcript, 10November 2025. ‘WIPFLI: Prime Minister, just quickly, a lot of the feedback, and we spoke to Anika Wells, our Communications Minister, about this also. A lot of the feedback has been, ‘oh, this is the government's attempt to create a Digital ID so they can steal more information’. I see it over and over again. Anika Wells confirmed that's not the case. I think it would just help for the Australian people to also hear you confirm that's not the case, as you’ve said before. PRIME MINISTER: It is certainly not the case. This is about giving people power back to families.’

[4]See, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, AIIA & AATT confirming limitations of age estimation and META.

[5]Ms Mia Garlick, Regional Director of Policy, Meta, Committee Hansard, 28 October 2025, p. 8.

[6]Ms Mia Garlick, Regional Director of Policy, Meta, Committee Hansard, 28 October 2025, p. 2.

[7]Mr John Pane, Chair, Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc., Committee Hansard, 13 October 2025, p.44.