STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms MASCARENHAS (Swan) (13:58): In my first term, there was a private member's motion on eating disorders. I remember sitting in this chamber listening to coalition members who had gone through the painful experience of their daughters having had an eating disorder. I can't imagine how difficult that would have been, particularly as a parent that is away for 20 weeks of the year.

As a parent, one of the reasons why I am here is that I want to make a structural difference to our children's lives, and that includes reducing the influences that increase the likelihood of an eating disorder. We know that social media algorithms are teaching boys and girls to hate their bodies. When the government released the draft laws, the Minister for Communications described what is happening right now.

Girls are getting advice from chatbots on how to exist on only 600 calories a day. For those who don't calorie count, you need about 1,600 to 3,000. Today, the Albanese government is introducing a digital duty of care bill, which gives Australians control over their feed and protects kids online.

I ask those opposite: what are you prepared to do to stop this scourge? We have a moment. As Senator Jonno Duniam said, there are moments where we can have bipartisanship.

This could be that.