Submission of the Department of Home Affairs Reviews of the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 and the Online Content Scheme 1 August 2018 Introduction Online child abuse, technology-facilitated abuse and cyberbullying are complex issues requiring a comprehensive Government response that is interconnected and utilises preventative and educative approaches, strong engagement and cooperation, as well as robust civil and criminal enforcement measures for the most serious cases. Government responses to these online safety issues take a whole-of-government approach, integrating activities at both Commonwealth and state and territory levels, and strong engagement with industry and the non-government sector. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety Office) is supported by and empowered under the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 (Online Safety Act) and Schedules 5 and 7 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Online Content Scheme) to achieve the functions outlined in section 15 of the Online Safety Act and section 94 of the Online Content Scheme. The eSafety Office plays an important and valuable role in this holistic model. The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) holds policy and enforcement responsibilities for aspects of online safety matters, including: policy responsibility for a broad remit of online criminal conduct, including offences for online child abuse in the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code), criminal cyberbullying, and technology-facilitated abuse; countering offensive online content, including terrorist material; cyber security; and
Submission of the Department of Home Affairs Reviews of the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 and the Online Content Scheme 1 August 2018 Introduction Online child abuse, technology-facilitated abuse and cyberbullying are complex issues requiring a comprehensive Government response that is interconnected and utilises preventative and educative approaches, strong engagement and cooperation, as well as robust civil and criminal enforcement measures for the most serious cases. Government responses to these online safety issues take a whole-of-government approach, integrating activities at both Commonwealth and state and territory levels, and strong engagement with industry and the non-government sector. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety Office) is supported by and empowered under the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 (Online Safety Act) and Schedules 5 and 7 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Online Content Scheme) to achieve the functions outlined in section 15 of the Online Safety Act and section 94 of the Online Content Scheme. The eSafety Office plays an important and valuable role in this holistic model. The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) holds policy and enforcement responsibilities for aspects of online safety matters, including: policy responsibility for a broad remit of online criminal conduct, including offences for online child abuse in the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code), criminal cyberbullying, and technology-facilitated abuse; countering offensive online content, including terrorist material; cyber security; and
department_of_home_affairs.docx