Action on cyberbullying

MARCH 19, 2015: YOU wanted more done to protect our kids from cyberbullying, and the Abbott Government is doing that today with the appointment of a Children’s e-Safety Commissioner.Cyber safety expert Alastair MacGibbon has been appointed to this new role, and this step will help combat cyberbullying in our communities.[pullquote align="left or right"]Research has found that over a 12 month period, one in five Australian children aged eight to seventeen are exposed to cyberbullying....[/pullquote]It will be the mission of Mr MacGibbon's office to do more to protect our children online.Cyberbullying and online safety were growing problems regionally.I have heard the concerns of an increasing number of parents, schools and community organisations about the need to take action on this.The Coalition went to the 2013 election with a commitment to establish a Children’s e-Safety Commissioner and to establish an effective complaints system, backed by legislation, to get harmful material down fast from large social media sites. Today’s announcement delivers on that commitment.Mr MacGibbon will take a national leadership role in enhancing online safety for children. He has been a director of the Centre for Internet Safety at the University of Canberra since 2011 and he has over 15 years’ experience in the field of online safety and security.“I look forward to working with industry, child welfare organisations, law enforcement agencies and of course Australian children and parents as we work to protect children from the growing problem of cyberbullying,” Mr MacGibbon said.[box style="1 or 2"]The Abbott Government announced funding of $10 million in the 2014-15 Budget for the Enhancing Online Safety for Children policy, including $7.5 million to assist schools to access accredited online safety programmes; $2.4 million to establish and operate the Office of the Children’s e-Safety Commissioner; and $100,000 to support Australian-based research and information campaigns on online safety.[/box]