Morrison vows to crack down on social media trolling and online child abuse material

PM’s announcement comes as Coalition faces growing pressure to identify a concrete agenda for government

Scott Morrison on the 2019 federal election campaign trail. The prime minister has promised to introduce tough new offences covering the provision of electronic services to facilitate dealings with child abuse material. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Scott Morrison has promised to crack down on social media trolling and increase punishments for the exploitation of children online as he identifies his immediate priorities for government if the Coalition wins on 18 May.

As Bill Shorten launched Labor’s campaign in Brisbane on Sunday morning, Morrison promised to increase the maximum penalties from three to five years for people who use a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence under section 474.17 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The Liberal leader also flagged the introduction of new aggravated offences for sexual intercourse or other sexual activity with children outside Australia, and vowed to introduce new offences covering the provision of electronic services to facilitate dealings with child abuse material, and grooming third parties using the post or a carriage service to procure children for sexual activity.

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By Katharine Murphy / Political editor
(Source: theguardian.com; May 22, 2019; http://tinyurl.com/y2nwnpjd)
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