Latest news with #AustralianChildMaltreatmentStudy
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Why do we need that?': Push to ban AI nudity apps
Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Why do we need that?': Push to ban AI nudity apps
Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
The Advertiser
13-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Child victims of violence are failed by systems designed by and for adults
I rarely find myself at a loss for words. But what is there to say to a child victim of family violence who tells you about sleeping in a paddock, at a train station and on a friend's couch while waiting for temporary housing to become available after fleeing her abusive family home? How should I respond to the numerous young people who told me of their experiences of abuse over a sustained period of time before disclosing to a trusted adult in their life, only to receive no response? Nothing. Not necessarily because that adult didn't care, but because they didn't know what to do, or the services needed were quite simply not available. Or what do I say to the young person who told me about their younger sister's experience of disclosing suicide ideation multiple times while in the care of the state and receiving no meaningful response? In my interviews with 53 South Australian children and young people aged 13 to 18, conducted to inform the Silence and Inaction report for the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, I learnt quickly that these experiences are not anomalies. They capture the all-too-often reality of the experiences of children who seek help for domestic, family and sexual violence. Released this week, Silence and Inaction, details the lived experiences of young people seeking help for domestic, family, and sexual violence. It highlights the barriers and systemic exclusions they face, the resilience they show, and the changes they want to see. The timing could not be more critical. Australia is grappling with a national crisis of violence against women and children. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study revealed that nearly two-thirds of Australians report experiencing child maltreatment. During childhood, 32 per cent of Australians report experiencing physical abuse, 31 per cent emotional abuse, 28.5 per cent sexual abuse, and 9 per cent neglect. The prevalence is staggering. Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children rightly acknowledges that children are not merely witnesses to violence but experience its impacts directly. This violence has profound consequences on their safety, wellbeing, and development. They are victim-survivors in their own right. And while this acknowledgement is often rolled off the tongues of politicians, in the nearly three years since the release of the National Plan, transformative action remains elusive. The needs of child victims are often still marginalised. Reform remains piecemeal, and investment in child-specific services and responses is sorely lacking. Young victim-survivors told me time and time again of the extraordinary challenges they faced in accessing support, safety, and justice. Their experiences reveal gaps across every stage of the ecosystem: from early intervention, through to crisis response and long-term recovery and healing. Young people described feeling fearful, silenced, unsupported, and at times, invisible. Whether disclosing violence to police, seeking help from a school counsellor, trying to access mental health services, or simply looking for someone to believe them, too many of the young people that I interviewed encountered disbelief, dismissal, or delays. Many young people described fearing retaliation, distrusting authorities, or worrying that disclosing their victimisation would worsen their situation. Essentially, after surviving violence, they came to fear the impacts of the systems that should be protecting them. The emotional toll of not being believed was stark. Young victim-survivors' experiences of institutional disbelief compounded their trauma, diminished their trust in support systems, and, for some, delayed their ability to seek further help. For several young people I spoke with, the inability to access support led to experiences of homelessness, self-harm, misuse of alcohol and drugs, disengagement from school, and further experiences of insecurity and abuse. Supporting recovery and healing for child victim-survivors is prevention. It represents an opportunity to interrupt intergenerational cycles of violence and to prevent the future impacts of untreated trauma. Put simply, to support a child to heal and recover from the violence inflicted by others makes moral, social and economic sense - now and into the longer term. The South Australian royal commission presents a unique opportunity to lead the nation in transforming how we support children and young people impacted by violence. But the challenges it exposes are not South Australia's alone. Mounting evidence - including the voices of a growing cohort of young survivor advocates - shows us that across Australia, we are continually failing young victims of violence and burdening them to break the cycle alone. Every disclosure of violence from a child or young person must be treated as an opportunity for transformative support. This means embedding trauma-informed, child-centred responses across every system - child protection, justice, education, health, housing, and social services. It means resourcing child-centric and youth-specific services, training professionals, and designing policies that place children's rights and voices at the centre of our response. The young people I spoke with were remarkably clear-eyed about the failures they had endured. But they were also crystal clear on the changes needed - if we are willing to listen and act with them. Children want to feel safe, and they want to be believed by the trusted adults in their lives. They want age-appropriate supports that are accessible and designed with the needs of children and young people front of mind. Children don't want to fumble their way through systems that work around them. They want systems that are designed with and for them. Currently, Australian responses are falling wildly short on each of these requests. Meeting those needs requires policy and systems change alongside a fundamental cultural shift: one that centres on the voices of children and young people, acknowledges the scale of the challenge we need to address, invests in creating an entire system that meets their needs, and treats every disclosure of violence as an opportunity for transformative support. The question now is not whether we know what needs to change. Child victims across Australia are sharing their voices on what is needed. The question is whether those in power will now act. I rarely find myself at a loss for words. But what is there to say to a child victim of family violence who tells you about sleeping in a paddock, at a train station and on a friend's couch while waiting for temporary housing to become available after fleeing her abusive family home? How should I respond to the numerous young people who told me of their experiences of abuse over a sustained period of time before disclosing to a trusted adult in their life, only to receive no response? Nothing. Not necessarily because that adult didn't care, but because they didn't know what to do, or the services needed were quite simply not available. Or what do I say to the young person who told me about their younger sister's experience of disclosing suicide ideation multiple times while in the care of the state and receiving no meaningful response? In my interviews with 53 South Australian children and young people aged 13 to 18, conducted to inform the Silence and Inaction report for the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, I learnt quickly that these experiences are not anomalies. They capture the all-too-often reality of the experiences of children who seek help for domestic, family and sexual violence. Released this week, Silence and Inaction, details the lived experiences of young people seeking help for domestic, family, and sexual violence. It highlights the barriers and systemic exclusions they face, the resilience they show, and the changes they want to see. The timing could not be more critical. Australia is grappling with a national crisis of violence against women and children. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study revealed that nearly two-thirds of Australians report experiencing child maltreatment. During childhood, 32 per cent of Australians report experiencing physical abuse, 31 per cent emotional abuse, 28.5 per cent sexual abuse, and 9 per cent neglect. The prevalence is staggering. Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children rightly acknowledges that children are not merely witnesses to violence but experience its impacts directly. This violence has profound consequences on their safety, wellbeing, and development. They are victim-survivors in their own right. And while this acknowledgement is often rolled off the tongues of politicians, in the nearly three years since the release of the National Plan, transformative action remains elusive. The needs of child victims are often still marginalised. Reform remains piecemeal, and investment in child-specific services and responses is sorely lacking. Young victim-survivors told me time and time again of the extraordinary challenges they faced in accessing support, safety, and justice. Their experiences reveal gaps across every stage of the ecosystem: from early intervention, through to crisis response and long-term recovery and healing. Young people described feeling fearful, silenced, unsupported, and at times, invisible. Whether disclosing violence to police, seeking help from a school counsellor, trying to access mental health services, or simply looking for someone to believe them, too many of the young people that I interviewed encountered disbelief, dismissal, or delays. Many young people described fearing retaliation, distrusting authorities, or worrying that disclosing their victimisation would worsen their situation. Essentially, after surviving violence, they came to fear the impacts of the systems that should be protecting them. The emotional toll of not being believed was stark. Young victim-survivors' experiences of institutional disbelief compounded their trauma, diminished their trust in support systems, and, for some, delayed their ability to seek further help. For several young people I spoke with, the inability to access support led to experiences of homelessness, self-harm, misuse of alcohol and drugs, disengagement from school, and further experiences of insecurity and abuse. Supporting recovery and healing for child victim-survivors is prevention. It represents an opportunity to interrupt intergenerational cycles of violence and to prevent the future impacts of untreated trauma. Put simply, to support a child to heal and recover from the violence inflicted by others makes moral, social and economic sense - now and into the longer term. The South Australian royal commission presents a unique opportunity to lead the nation in transforming how we support children and young people impacted by violence. But the challenges it exposes are not South Australia's alone. Mounting evidence - including the voices of a growing cohort of young survivor advocates - shows us that across Australia, we are continually failing young victims of violence and burdening them to break the cycle alone. Every disclosure of violence from a child or young person must be treated as an opportunity for transformative support. This means embedding trauma-informed, child-centred responses across every system - child protection, justice, education, health, housing, and social services. It means resourcing child-centric and youth-specific services, training professionals, and designing policies that place children's rights and voices at the centre of our response. The young people I spoke with were remarkably clear-eyed about the failures they had endured. But they were also crystal clear on the changes needed - if we are willing to listen and act with them. Children want to feel safe, and they want to be believed by the trusted adults in their lives. They want age-appropriate supports that are accessible and designed with the needs of children and young people front of mind. Children don't want to fumble their way through systems that work around them. They want systems that are designed with and for them. Currently, Australian responses are falling wildly short on each of these requests. Meeting those needs requires policy and systems change alongside a fundamental cultural shift: one that centres on the voices of children and young people, acknowledges the scale of the challenge we need to address, invests in creating an entire system that meets their needs, and treats every disclosure of violence as an opportunity for transformative support. The question now is not whether we know what needs to change. Child victims across Australia are sharing their voices on what is needed. The question is whether those in power will now act. I rarely find myself at a loss for words. But what is there to say to a child victim of family violence who tells you about sleeping in a paddock, at a train station and on a friend's couch while waiting for temporary housing to become available after fleeing her abusive family home? How should I respond to the numerous young people who told me of their experiences of abuse over a sustained period of time before disclosing to a trusted adult in their life, only to receive no response? Nothing. Not necessarily because that adult didn't care, but because they didn't know what to do, or the services needed were quite simply not available. Or what do I say to the young person who told me about their younger sister's experience of disclosing suicide ideation multiple times while in the care of the state and receiving no meaningful response? In my interviews with 53 South Australian children and young people aged 13 to 18, conducted to inform the Silence and Inaction report for the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, I learnt quickly that these experiences are not anomalies. They capture the all-too-often reality of the experiences of children who seek help for domestic, family and sexual violence. Released this week, Silence and Inaction, details the lived experiences of young people seeking help for domestic, family, and sexual violence. It highlights the barriers and systemic exclusions they face, the resilience they show, and the changes they want to see. The timing could not be more critical. Australia is grappling with a national crisis of violence against women and children. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study revealed that nearly two-thirds of Australians report experiencing child maltreatment. During childhood, 32 per cent of Australians report experiencing physical abuse, 31 per cent emotional abuse, 28.5 per cent sexual abuse, and 9 per cent neglect. The prevalence is staggering. Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children rightly acknowledges that children are not merely witnesses to violence but experience its impacts directly. This violence has profound consequences on their safety, wellbeing, and development. They are victim-survivors in their own right. And while this acknowledgement is often rolled off the tongues of politicians, in the nearly three years since the release of the National Plan, transformative action remains elusive. The needs of child victims are often still marginalised. Reform remains piecemeal, and investment in child-specific services and responses is sorely lacking. Young victim-survivors told me time and time again of the extraordinary challenges they faced in accessing support, safety, and justice. Their experiences reveal gaps across every stage of the ecosystem: from early intervention, through to crisis response and long-term recovery and healing. Young people described feeling fearful, silenced, unsupported, and at times, invisible. Whether disclosing violence to police, seeking help from a school counsellor, trying to access mental health services, or simply looking for someone to believe them, too many of the young people that I interviewed encountered disbelief, dismissal, or delays. Many young people described fearing retaliation, distrusting authorities, or worrying that disclosing their victimisation would worsen their situation. Essentially, after surviving violence, they came to fear the impacts of the systems that should be protecting them. The emotional toll of not being believed was stark. Young victim-survivors' experiences of institutional disbelief compounded their trauma, diminished their trust in support systems, and, for some, delayed their ability to seek further help. For several young people I spoke with, the inability to access support led to experiences of homelessness, self-harm, misuse of alcohol and drugs, disengagement from school, and further experiences of insecurity and abuse. Supporting recovery and healing for child victim-survivors is prevention. It represents an opportunity to interrupt intergenerational cycles of violence and to prevent the future impacts of untreated trauma. Put simply, to support a child to heal and recover from the violence inflicted by others makes moral, social and economic sense - now and into the longer term. The South Australian royal commission presents a unique opportunity to lead the nation in transforming how we support children and young people impacted by violence. But the challenges it exposes are not South Australia's alone. Mounting evidence - including the voices of a growing cohort of young survivor advocates - shows us that across Australia, we are continually failing young victims of violence and burdening them to break the cycle alone. Every disclosure of violence from a child or young person must be treated as an opportunity for transformative support. This means embedding trauma-informed, child-centred responses across every system - child protection, justice, education, health, housing, and social services. It means resourcing child-centric and youth-specific services, training professionals, and designing policies that place children's rights and voices at the centre of our response. The young people I spoke with were remarkably clear-eyed about the failures they had endured. But they were also crystal clear on the changes needed - if we are willing to listen and act with them. Children want to feel safe, and they want to be believed by the trusted adults in their lives. They want age-appropriate supports that are accessible and designed with the needs of children and young people front of mind. Children don't want to fumble their way through systems that work around them. They want systems that are designed with and for them. Currently, Australian responses are falling wildly short on each of these requests. Meeting those needs requires policy and systems change alongside a fundamental cultural shift: one that centres on the voices of children and young people, acknowledges the scale of the challenge we need to address, invests in creating an entire system that meets their needs, and treats every disclosure of violence as an opportunity for transformative support. The question now is not whether we know what needs to change. Child victims across Australia are sharing their voices on what is needed. The question is whether those in power will now act. I rarely find myself at a loss for words. But what is there to say to a child victim of family violence who tells you about sleeping in a paddock, at a train station and on a friend's couch while waiting for temporary housing to become available after fleeing her abusive family home? How should I respond to the numerous young people who told me of their experiences of abuse over a sustained period of time before disclosing to a trusted adult in their life, only to receive no response? Nothing. Not necessarily because that adult didn't care, but because they didn't know what to do, or the services needed were quite simply not available. Or what do I say to the young person who told me about their younger sister's experience of disclosing suicide ideation multiple times while in the care of the state and receiving no meaningful response? In my interviews with 53 South Australian children and young people aged 13 to 18, conducted to inform the Silence and Inaction report for the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, I learnt quickly that these experiences are not anomalies. They capture the all-too-often reality of the experiences of children who seek help for domestic, family and sexual violence. Released this week, Silence and Inaction, details the lived experiences of young people seeking help for domestic, family, and sexual violence. It highlights the barriers and systemic exclusions they face, the resilience they show, and the changes they want to see. The timing could not be more critical. Australia is grappling with a national crisis of violence against women and children. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study revealed that nearly two-thirds of Australians report experiencing child maltreatment. During childhood, 32 per cent of Australians report experiencing physical abuse, 31 per cent emotional abuse, 28.5 per cent sexual abuse, and 9 per cent neglect. The prevalence is staggering. Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children rightly acknowledges that children are not merely witnesses to violence but experience its impacts directly. This violence has profound consequences on their safety, wellbeing, and development. They are victim-survivors in their own right. And while this acknowledgement is often rolled off the tongues of politicians, in the nearly three years since the release of the National Plan, transformative action remains elusive. The needs of child victims are often still marginalised. Reform remains piecemeal, and investment in child-specific services and responses is sorely lacking. Young victim-survivors told me time and time again of the extraordinary challenges they faced in accessing support, safety, and justice. Their experiences reveal gaps across every stage of the ecosystem: from early intervention, through to crisis response and long-term recovery and healing. Young people described feeling fearful, silenced, unsupported, and at times, invisible. Whether disclosing violence to police, seeking help from a school counsellor, trying to access mental health services, or simply looking for someone to believe them, too many of the young people that I interviewed encountered disbelief, dismissal, or delays. Many young people described fearing retaliation, distrusting authorities, or worrying that disclosing their victimisation would worsen their situation. Essentially, after surviving violence, they came to fear the impacts of the systems that should be protecting them. The emotional toll of not being believed was stark. Young victim-survivors' experiences of institutional disbelief compounded their trauma, diminished their trust in support systems, and, for some, delayed their ability to seek further help. For several young people I spoke with, the inability to access support led to experiences of homelessness, self-harm, misuse of alcohol and drugs, disengagement from school, and further experiences of insecurity and abuse. Supporting recovery and healing for child victim-survivors is prevention. It represents an opportunity to interrupt intergenerational cycles of violence and to prevent the future impacts of untreated trauma. Put simply, to support a child to heal and recover from the violence inflicted by others makes moral, social and economic sense - now and into the longer term. The South Australian royal commission presents a unique opportunity to lead the nation in transforming how we support children and young people impacted by violence. But the challenges it exposes are not South Australia's alone. Mounting evidence - including the voices of a growing cohort of young survivor advocates - shows us that across Australia, we are continually failing young victims of violence and burdening them to break the cycle alone. Every disclosure of violence from a child or young person must be treated as an opportunity for transformative support. This means embedding trauma-informed, child-centred responses across every system - child protection, justice, education, health, housing, and social services. It means resourcing child-centric and youth-specific services, training professionals, and designing policies that place children's rights and voices at the centre of our response. The young people I spoke with were remarkably clear-eyed about the failures they had endured. But they were also crystal clear on the changes needed - if we are willing to listen and act with them. Children want to feel safe, and they want to be believed by the trusted adults in their lives. They want age-appropriate supports that are accessible and designed with the needs of children and young people front of mind. Children don't want to fumble their way through systems that work around them. They want systems that are designed with and for them. Currently, Australian responses are falling wildly short on each of these requests. Meeting those needs requires policy and systems change alongside a fundamental cultural shift: one that centres on the voices of children and young people, acknowledges the scale of the challenge we need to address, invests in creating an entire system that meets their needs, and treats every disclosure of violence as an opportunity for transformative support. The question now is not whether we know what needs to change. Child victims across Australia are sharing their voices on what is needed. The question is whether those in power will now act.
The Advertiser
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
It's time to treat children with the same respect and protection as adults
Right now, it's legal for parents to physically punish their children in Australia. This includes smacking, pinching, or even washing their mouth out with soap. While laws protect adults from physical assault, children don't have the same protection. But that could soon change. The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) is reviewing the state's criminal code and looking at ways to better protect children from physical harm. Two options are being considered - option one, repeal the defence, and option two, amend the defence. Option one would remove the law that allows "reasonable" physical punishment by parents. It would treat hitting a child the same as hitting an adult. This option includes providing parents with support and education instead of charging them with a crime for minor incidents. Option two would keep the law allowing parents to use low-level physical punishment (like a light smack) but clarify what is and isn't allowed. Research shows children who are smacked or hit are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem later in life. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found children who were physically punished four or more times were almost twice as likely to develop anxiety or depression in young adulthood. Physical punishment affects a child's brain development, making it harder for them to manage stress and emotions. Parents might think smacking stops bad behaviour, but studies show it doesn't work in the long term. In fact, it can make children more aggressive, disobedient, and antisocial. More than 70 international studies have linked corporal punishment to increased aggression and worse behaviour. Children who are punished physically are more likely to hit others as they grow up, including their own children or partners. It teaches them that violence is a normal way to solve problems. Physical punishment breaks trust. Children who are hit by their parents can become scared, angry, or emotionally withdrawn. This weakens their bond with caregivers, making it harder to guide them positively in the future. In 2009, the Australian government estimated that the costs of corporal punishment - including medical treatment, mental health issues, and lost productivity - would reach more than $200 million between 2012 and 2022. Preventing violence saves money as well as lives. Australia is falling behind. So far, 68 countries have banned corporal punishment. New Zealand did so in 2007 and ran a national public health campaign to teach parents about non-violent discipline. Since then, child assault reports have decreased and support for smacking has dropped from 89 per cent in 1981, to 19 per cent in 2018. This shows that when laws change and parents are supported, attitudes and behaviours change, too. If Queensland repeals the legal defence for corporal punishment, it must support parents with free evidence-based parenting programs and a public health campaign to explain why the law is changing and alternatives to smacking. MORE OPINION: It must work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culturally diverse groups to avoid repeating past harms, and monitor whether corporal punishment is decreasing and if families are getting the help they need. Changing the law isn't about criminalising parents. It's about protecting children and guiding families toward safer, more effective ways to teach right from wrong. While option two may address concerns about over-criminalisation, it sends a mixed message about the acceptability of physical discipline. Parents need to know that any form of physical punishment can be harmful. The law should unequivocally prohibit such practices to protect children's rights and wellbeing. Many parents use smacking because they think it's the only way to get their child to behave. But there are better ways including praising good behaviour, setting clear rules, implementing fair consequences, helping children to regulate their emotions, and using time-outs or quiet moments to help children reflect. These methods build stronger relationships and help children learn self-control without fear or pain. Queensland and Australia have an opportunity to lead in child protection. The evidence is clear - corporal punishment doesn't work, and it causes harm. It's time to treat children with the same respect and protection as adults. Children deserve to feel safe in their homes. Parents deserve support to use better parenting strategies. Society benefits when we reduce violence, improve mental health, and raise resilient children. The law must change. And with the right support, families can thrive without violence. Right now, it's legal for parents to physically punish their children in Australia. This includes smacking, pinching, or even washing their mouth out with soap. While laws protect adults from physical assault, children don't have the same protection. But that could soon change. The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) is reviewing the state's criminal code and looking at ways to better protect children from physical harm. Two options are being considered - option one, repeal the defence, and option two, amend the defence. Option one would remove the law that allows "reasonable" physical punishment by parents. It would treat hitting a child the same as hitting an adult. This option includes providing parents with support and education instead of charging them with a crime for minor incidents. Option two would keep the law allowing parents to use low-level physical punishment (like a light smack) but clarify what is and isn't allowed. Research shows children who are smacked or hit are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem later in life. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found children who were physically punished four or more times were almost twice as likely to develop anxiety or depression in young adulthood. Physical punishment affects a child's brain development, making it harder for them to manage stress and emotions. Parents might think smacking stops bad behaviour, but studies show it doesn't work in the long term. In fact, it can make children more aggressive, disobedient, and antisocial. More than 70 international studies have linked corporal punishment to increased aggression and worse behaviour. Children who are punished physically are more likely to hit others as they grow up, including their own children or partners. It teaches them that violence is a normal way to solve problems. Physical punishment breaks trust. Children who are hit by their parents can become scared, angry, or emotionally withdrawn. This weakens their bond with caregivers, making it harder to guide them positively in the future. In 2009, the Australian government estimated that the costs of corporal punishment - including medical treatment, mental health issues, and lost productivity - would reach more than $200 million between 2012 and 2022. Preventing violence saves money as well as lives. Australia is falling behind. So far, 68 countries have banned corporal punishment. New Zealand did so in 2007 and ran a national public health campaign to teach parents about non-violent discipline. Since then, child assault reports have decreased and support for smacking has dropped from 89 per cent in 1981, to 19 per cent in 2018. This shows that when laws change and parents are supported, attitudes and behaviours change, too. If Queensland repeals the legal defence for corporal punishment, it must support parents with free evidence-based parenting programs and a public health campaign to explain why the law is changing and alternatives to smacking. MORE OPINION: It must work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culturally diverse groups to avoid repeating past harms, and monitor whether corporal punishment is decreasing and if families are getting the help they need. Changing the law isn't about criminalising parents. It's about protecting children and guiding families toward safer, more effective ways to teach right from wrong. While option two may address concerns about over-criminalisation, it sends a mixed message about the acceptability of physical discipline. Parents need to know that any form of physical punishment can be harmful. The law should unequivocally prohibit such practices to protect children's rights and wellbeing. Many parents use smacking because they think it's the only way to get their child to behave. But there are better ways including praising good behaviour, setting clear rules, implementing fair consequences, helping children to regulate their emotions, and using time-outs or quiet moments to help children reflect. These methods build stronger relationships and help children learn self-control without fear or pain. Queensland and Australia have an opportunity to lead in child protection. The evidence is clear - corporal punishment doesn't work, and it causes harm. It's time to treat children with the same respect and protection as adults. Children deserve to feel safe in their homes. Parents deserve support to use better parenting strategies. Society benefits when we reduce violence, improve mental health, and raise resilient children. The law must change. And with the right support, families can thrive without violence. Right now, it's legal for parents to physically punish their children in Australia. This includes smacking, pinching, or even washing their mouth out with soap. While laws protect adults from physical assault, children don't have the same protection. But that could soon change. The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) is reviewing the state's criminal code and looking at ways to better protect children from physical harm. Two options are being considered - option one, repeal the defence, and option two, amend the defence. Option one would remove the law that allows "reasonable" physical punishment by parents. It would treat hitting a child the same as hitting an adult. This option includes providing parents with support and education instead of charging them with a crime for minor incidents. Option two would keep the law allowing parents to use low-level physical punishment (like a light smack) but clarify what is and isn't allowed. Research shows children who are smacked or hit are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem later in life. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found children who were physically punished four or more times were almost twice as likely to develop anxiety or depression in young adulthood. Physical punishment affects a child's brain development, making it harder for them to manage stress and emotions. Parents might think smacking stops bad behaviour, but studies show it doesn't work in the long term. In fact, it can make children more aggressive, disobedient, and antisocial. More than 70 international studies have linked corporal punishment to increased aggression and worse behaviour. Children who are punished physically are more likely to hit others as they grow up, including their own children or partners. It teaches them that violence is a normal way to solve problems. Physical punishment breaks trust. Children who are hit by their parents can become scared, angry, or emotionally withdrawn. This weakens their bond with caregivers, making it harder to guide them positively in the future. In 2009, the Australian government estimated that the costs of corporal punishment - including medical treatment, mental health issues, and lost productivity - would reach more than $200 million between 2012 and 2022. Preventing violence saves money as well as lives. Australia is falling behind. So far, 68 countries have banned corporal punishment. New Zealand did so in 2007 and ran a national public health campaign to teach parents about non-violent discipline. Since then, child assault reports have decreased and support for smacking has dropped from 89 per cent in 1981, to 19 per cent in 2018. This shows that when laws change and parents are supported, attitudes and behaviours change, too. If Queensland repeals the legal defence for corporal punishment, it must support parents with free evidence-based parenting programs and a public health campaign to explain why the law is changing and alternatives to smacking. MORE OPINION: It must work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culturally diverse groups to avoid repeating past harms, and monitor whether corporal punishment is decreasing and if families are getting the help they need. Changing the law isn't about criminalising parents. It's about protecting children and guiding families toward safer, more effective ways to teach right from wrong. While option two may address concerns about over-criminalisation, it sends a mixed message about the acceptability of physical discipline. Parents need to know that any form of physical punishment can be harmful. The law should unequivocally prohibit such practices to protect children's rights and wellbeing. Many parents use smacking because they think it's the only way to get their child to behave. But there are better ways including praising good behaviour, setting clear rules, implementing fair consequences, helping children to regulate their emotions, and using time-outs or quiet moments to help children reflect. These methods build stronger relationships and help children learn self-control without fear or pain. Queensland and Australia have an opportunity to lead in child protection. The evidence is clear - corporal punishment doesn't work, and it causes harm. It's time to treat children with the same respect and protection as adults. Children deserve to feel safe in their homes. Parents deserve support to use better parenting strategies. Society benefits when we reduce violence, improve mental health, and raise resilient children. The law must change. And with the right support, families can thrive without violence. Right now, it's legal for parents to physically punish their children in Australia. This includes smacking, pinching, or even washing their mouth out with soap. While laws protect adults from physical assault, children don't have the same protection. But that could soon change. The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) is reviewing the state's criminal code and looking at ways to better protect children from physical harm. Two options are being considered - option one, repeal the defence, and option two, amend the defence. Option one would remove the law that allows "reasonable" physical punishment by parents. It would treat hitting a child the same as hitting an adult. This option includes providing parents with support and education instead of charging them with a crime for minor incidents. Option two would keep the law allowing parents to use low-level physical punishment (like a light smack) but clarify what is and isn't allowed. Research shows children who are smacked or hit are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem later in life. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found children who were physically punished four or more times were almost twice as likely to develop anxiety or depression in young adulthood. Physical punishment affects a child's brain development, making it harder for them to manage stress and emotions. Parents might think smacking stops bad behaviour, but studies show it doesn't work in the long term. In fact, it can make children more aggressive, disobedient, and antisocial. More than 70 international studies have linked corporal punishment to increased aggression and worse behaviour. Children who are punished physically are more likely to hit others as they grow up, including their own children or partners. It teaches them that violence is a normal way to solve problems. Physical punishment breaks trust. Children who are hit by their parents can become scared, angry, or emotionally withdrawn. This weakens their bond with caregivers, making it harder to guide them positively in the future. In 2009, the Australian government estimated that the costs of corporal punishment - including medical treatment, mental health issues, and lost productivity - would reach more than $200 million between 2012 and 2022. Preventing violence saves money as well as lives. Australia is falling behind. So far, 68 countries have banned corporal punishment. New Zealand did so in 2007 and ran a national public health campaign to teach parents about non-violent discipline. Since then, child assault reports have decreased and support for smacking has dropped from 89 per cent in 1981, to 19 per cent in 2018. This shows that when laws change and parents are supported, attitudes and behaviours change, too. If Queensland repeals the legal defence for corporal punishment, it must support parents with free evidence-based parenting programs and a public health campaign to explain why the law is changing and alternatives to smacking. MORE OPINION: It must work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culturally diverse groups to avoid repeating past harms, and monitor whether corporal punishment is decreasing and if families are getting the help they need. Changing the law isn't about criminalising parents. It's about protecting children and guiding families toward safer, more effective ways to teach right from wrong. While option two may address concerns about over-criminalisation, it sends a mixed message about the acceptability of physical discipline. Parents need to know that any form of physical punishment can be harmful. The law should unequivocally prohibit such practices to protect children's rights and wellbeing. Many parents use smacking because they think it's the only way to get their child to behave. But there are better ways including praising good behaviour, setting clear rules, implementing fair consequences, helping children to regulate their emotions, and using time-outs or quiet moments to help children reflect. These methods build stronger relationships and help children learn self-control without fear or pain. Queensland and Australia have an opportunity to lead in child protection. The evidence is clear - corporal punishment doesn't work, and it causes harm. It's time to treat children with the same respect and protection as adults. Children deserve to feel safe in their homes. Parents deserve support to use better parenting strategies. Society benefits when we reduce violence, improve mental health, and raise resilient children. The law must change. And with the right support, families can thrive without violence.
