JOINT MEDIA RELEASE – Youth crime ‘post and boast’ laws being introduced to Federal Parliament today

SENATOR THE HON MICHAELIA CASH
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

THE HON DAVID COLEMAN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BANKS

25 March 2024

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

YOUTH CRIME ‘POST AND BOAST’ LAWS BEING INTRODUCED TO FEDERAL PARLIAMENT TODAY

The Federal Coalition will today introduce legislation to tackle the scourge of criminals who post their activities online for notoriety.

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman will move a Private Member’s Bill which seeks to impose jail terms, social media bans and removal orders.

Under planned federal laws, a person could be jailed for up to two years for depicting violence, drug offences or property offences for the purpose of increasing a person’s notoriety.

Courts would be able to make an order to prohibit a person convicted of the new offence from using social media for up to two years.

And the eSafety Commissioner would be given specific powers to order the removal of the so-called ‘post and boast’ crime videos from social media and other digital platforms.

Mr Coleman said action was needed to tackle what was an appalling trend among youth crime gangs.

“We’ve seen terrible examples of videos of thugs invading people’s homes at night and of terrified occupants being confronted and accosted by criminals,” Mr Coleman said.

“Often this is being done for ‘likes’ on social media. It’s completely unacceptable and it’s got to stop.

“We want to give police the additional legal weapons they need to support them in their fight to combat this shocking trend.”

“Youth crime is out of control across our country,” said Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash.

“We are now seeing an extremely disturbing trend where social media is being abused to glamourise violence and criminal activity. Social media notoriety has become a driver of crime in our suburbs.

“The Coalition’s new Bill will attack this problem at the source, by making it illegal to post material glamourising violence, drug and property crimes to increase a person’s notoriety,” Senator Cash said.

“Under the Coalition’s Bill, courts will also be able to restrict or ban offenders from using social media for up to two years. This gives them the additional tools they need to deal with the issue over the longer term.”

Mr Coleman will introduce the Crimes and Online Safety Legislation Amendment (Combatting Online Notoriety) Bill into Federal Parliament this morning.

The Coalition calls on the Albanese Government to support a full debate and to pass these tough new laws through Parliament.