Internet Cafes and Cyber-based Paedophilia
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: I ask the Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for Youth, the following question without notice. Is the Minister aware that students who truant school are facing increasing danger from cyber paedophiles and that there is a growing trend of truants flocking to Internet cafes? Is the Minister aware that many truants are also accessing porn sites and other disturbing material in Internet cafes that would alarm parents? Can the Minister confirm that many Internet cafes also escape obligations in restricting inappropriate Internet content because the regulations do not cover all operators? In particular, can the Minister indicate what tougher guidelines will be implemented to ensure that children using Internet cafes are safe from crimes such as cyber-based paedophilia?
Deferred answer to Internet Cafes and Cyber-based Paedophilia
On 27 November 2007 Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes asked the Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for Youth, a question without notice regarding Internet cafes and cyber-based paedophilia. The Minister for Youth provided the following response:
The Federal Government, through its Australian Communications and Media Authority, is specifically responsible for monitoring internet content, encouraging the internet industry to develop codes of practice, and informing the community about internet safety issues, particularly in relation to children.
With regard to truancy issues, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Training, the Hon John Della Bosca, MLC.