STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (13:32): My child isn't old enough yet to play video games, but that day isn't far off, and it's already playing on my mind. Now, for most parents, gaming is exactly what it should be: kids having fun, competing with friends and exploring virtual worlds. But, increasingly, radicalisation doesn't start with something that looks radical; it starts with an online game, then a chat, a private message and eventually an encrypted platform.

That's why I've pushed for a new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiry into the drivers of radicalisation in Australia. The inquiry will examine the pathways, the role of algorithms, gaming platforms and encrypted apps, and what responsibility the tech companies have, to make sure we protect our children. The threat is changing quickly, and it's reaching young people.

As a parent, I find this deeply concerning. ASIO has warned that radicalisation that once took months or years can now happen in a matter of weeks. Around 20 per cent of their priority counterterrorism cases now involve young people.

That is one in five. The scale of online interaction matters. Nine in 10 Australian households play video games.

Research from the eSafety Commissioner shows that 40 per cent of children who play online games have played with strangers, while more than a quarter have chatted with people that they simply do not know. This can create opportunities for people who deliberately aim to manipulate and influence our kids. Our children should be able to play online safely and connect with their friends without being drawn into something that they never went looking for in the first place.