❓ Hon Philip Scott questions the WA government's financial contribution, community consultation, and rationale behind supporting the Commonwealth's social media age ban. The Attorney General's response outlines legal representation and justification for the intervention.
AnsweredQoN 1299Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Social media ban1299.Hon Philip Scottto
the parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General:I refer to the
Attorney General's media statement of 9 December titled "WA joins national
effort to defend social media age ban".(1) How much money is the Western Australian
government contributing to the so-called national effort to defend the
Commonwealth's social media age ban?(2) What community consultation was undertaken by
the WA government before deciding to defend the Commonwealth's social media age
ban?(3) The media statement states that the social
media age ban empowers parents. Can the Attorney General explain how forcing
kids to prove their identity to an overseas social media company empowers
parents?
the parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General:I refer to the
Attorney General's media statement of 9 December titled "WA joins national
effort to defend social media age ban".(1) How much money is the Western Australian
government contributing to the so-called national effort to defend the
Commonwealth's social media age ban?(2) What community consultation was undertaken by
the WA government before deciding to defend the Commonwealth's social media age
ban?(3) The media statement states that the social
media age ban empowers parents. Can the Attorney General explain how forcing
kids to prove their identity to an overseas social media company empowers
parents?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 December 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Dan Caddy replied:I thank the member
for some notice of the question. The Attorney General has provided the
following answer.(1) The Attorney General of Western Australia filed
a notice of intervention in the High Court of Australia proceedings S163/2025
on 9 December 2025. The Solicitor-General of Western Australia and the State
Solicitor's Office will act for the state in the matter. It is not possible to
estimate what the cost of the intervention will be at this time.(2) Community consultation is not undertaken when
deciding whether the state should intervene in a constitutional matter.
Consistent with this practice, no consultation occurred in deciding whether to
intervene in this matter.(3) The Commonwealth reforms are a landmark shift
that moves responsibility onto the platforms and not young people or their
parents to ensure that the digital environment is safer, more accountable and
more supportive for families. These laws give parents the support and tools to
help shield children under 16 years of age from risks such as cyberbullying,
mental health stresses, exposure to inappropriate material and addictive
platform design.
Social media ban
for some notice of the question. The Attorney General has provided the
following answer.(1) The Attorney General of Western Australia filed
a notice of intervention in the High Court of Australia proceedings S163/2025
on 9 December 2025. The Solicitor-General of Western Australia and the State
Solicitor's Office will act for the state in the matter. It is not possible to
estimate what the cost of the intervention will be at this time.(2) Community consultation is not undertaken when
deciding whether the state should intervene in a constitutional matter.
Consistent with this practice, no consultation occurred in deciding whether to
intervene in this matter.(3) The Commonwealth reforms are a landmark shift
that moves responsibility onto the platforms and not young people or their
parents to ensure that the digital environment is safer, more accountable and
more supportive for families. These laws give parents the support and tools to
help shield children under 16 years of age from risks such as cyberbullying,
mental health stresses, exposure to inappropriate material and addictive
platform design.
Social media ban
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