QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Dr ALY (Cowan—Minister for Small Business, Minister for International Development and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:39): The Albanese government recognises the importance of small business to the Australian economy and that's why we met with the Council of Small Business Organisations, COSBOA, during the exposure draft consultation. A duty of care is not a new concept to small businesses who sell products, deliver services, hire workers and, indeed, look after their customers.

Providers of low-risk services like websites and applications run by small businesses will have minimal obligations under the digital duty of care. The eSafety Commissioner will provide further regulatory guidance in due course. Now, that is in recognition of the fact that websites and apps run by small businesses generally don't: (a) facilitate any user-to-user interaction, private messaging or otherwise facilitate connection between strangers; (b) allow users of the website to upload or stream or generate content for other users; (c) provide harmful or classified materials such as pornography or high-impact violence or include design features associated with negative behavioural impacts such as recommender systems or feedback features.

The digital duty of care is important reform, as we have heard today, to protect Australians from online harm, and I am ready to work through the issues like this with all sides of parliament to get it done.