--- title: Federal Govt plans to introduce cyber-bullying watchdog description: Federal Govt plans to introduce cyber-bullying watchdog image: https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1085259341-4.jpg --- Latest Guide | Transform how you manage policies with our interactive guide [![Ideagen School Governance Horizontal 2024](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Ideagen%20School%20Governance%20Horizontal%202024.svg "Ideagen School Governance Horizontal 2024")](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au) * * Search ** Search [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3786587/5eb7c708-5720-4c0c-874c-53f035b1dac7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3786587/5eb7c708-5720-4c0c-874c-53f035b1dac7) - [ Boarding Schools ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/boarding-schools) - [ COVID-19/Coronavirus ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/covid-19-coronavirus) - [ Child Protection ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/child-protection) - [ Early Learning ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/early-learning) - [ Excursions ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/excursions) - [ Gov, Risk and Compliance ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/governance-risk-compliance) - [ Human Resources ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/human-resources) - [ Overseas Students ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/overseas-students) - [ Privacy & Complaints Handling ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/privacy-complaints-handling) - [ School Gov & Executives ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/school-governance-executives) - [ School Registration ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/school-registration) - [ Social Media ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/social-media) - [ Student Wellbeing ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/student-wellbeing) - [ Workplace Safety ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/workplace-safety) - [ Weekly Wrap ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/weekly-wrap) ###### Article ## Federal Govt plans to introduce cyber-bullying watchdog 22/01/14 ![Resources](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1085259341-4.jpg) The Federal Coalition Government has signalled its plans to introduce a new independent statutory authority in addition to laws that could force harmful content to be removed quickly from social media sites, along with the introduction of a "simplified" cyber-bullying offence. The Government this week released a [discussion paper](http://www.communications.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/204064/Discussion_Paper_-_Enhancing_Online_Safety_for_Children_FINAL.pdf), echoing its pre-election policy, which proposes the establishment of a Children’s E-Safety Commissioner to "take the lead across Government in implementing policies to improve the safety of children whilst online". The Commissioner would help implement a proposed scheme "for the rapid removal of material that is harmful to a child from large social media sites" and assist schools deliver online safety education. “The Children’s E-Safety Commissioner will be a single point of contact in the Federal Government for online safety issues for children," the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher said in a statement. “When a child falls victim to cyber-bullying, it can be hard to get the harmful material down fast, and with current laws, cyber-bullies may not realise they are breaking the law. This is what these measures are designed to address,” he said. The discussion paper has suggested Australia would not follow New Zealand in implementing a criminal offence for bullying laws, citing the Coalition's position that criminal laws in Australia were already appropriate to deal with the offence. However, the paper proposed Australia could introduce new civil penalties and an "infringement notice scheme" that would provide "a faster, more effective process for dealing with cyber-bullying complaints, by avoiding the delays of court processes". "The penalties under the infringement notice scheme should be high enough to dissuade and attract parental attention, but not so high that it leads people to contest the matter as a preferable option (perhaps a $1,000 fine)." ###### Share this [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2014/01/23/federal-govt-plans-to-introduce-cyber-bullying-watchdog%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2014/01/23/federal-govt-plans-to-introduce-cyber-bullying-watchdog](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2014/01/23/federal-govt-plans-to-introduce-cyber-bullying-watchdog%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2014/01/23/federal-govt-plans-to-introduce-cyber-bullying-watchdog) ##### About the Author ![](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(24).png) **CompliSpace** CompliSpace is Ideagen’s SaaS-enabled solution that helps organisations in highly-regulated industries meet their governance, risk, compliance and policy management obligations. ## Resources you may like ###### Article ##### Setting your boarding staff up for success: why policy clarity matters Boarding governance touches on child safety, complaints handling, student health, and much more.... [Read More **](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/setting-your-boarding-staff-up-for-success-why-policy-clarity-matters) ###### Article ##### Strengthening child safety recruitment: what schools must do to ensure robust recruitment practices [Read More **](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/strengthening-child-safety-recruitment-what-schools-must-do-to-ensure-robust-recruitment-practices) ###### Article ##### Legislative and regulatory changes to be aware of in 2026 [Read More **](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/legislative-and-regulatory-changes-to-be-aware-of-in-2026) ## Want School Governance delivered to your inbox weekly? ##### Sign up today! [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3786587/806f864b-0ad3-4492-a3e9-b7af27aca769.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3786587/806f864b-0ad3-4492-a3e9-b7af27aca769)