Online Safety Bill 2021

Summary

Introduced with the Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021, the bill: retains and replicates certain provisions in the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images scheme; specifies basic online safety expectations; establishes an online content scheme for the removal of certain material; creates a complaints-based removal notice scheme for cyber-abuse being perpetrated against an Australian adult; broadens the cyber-bullying scheme to capture harms occurring on services other than social media; reduces the timeframe for service providers to respond to a removal notice from the eSafety Commissioner; brings providers of app distribution services and internet search engine services into the remit of the new online content scheme; and establishes a power for the eSafety Commissioner to request or require internet service providers to disable access to material depicting, promoting, inciting or instructing in abhorrent violent conduct for time-limited periods in crisis situations.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time	24 Feb 2021
Second reading moved	24 Feb 2021
Second reading debate	16 Mar 2021
Second reading agreed to	16 Mar 2021
Third reading agreed to	16 Mar 2021

Senate
Introduced and read a first time	17 Mar 2021
Second reading moved	17 Mar 2021
Second reading debate	16 Jun 2021
Second reading debate	17 Jun 2021
Second reading agreed to	22 Jun 2021
Third reading agreed to : Amendment details: 11 Government (1 as amended by 3 Opposition) and 7 Opposition agreed to	22 Jun 2021

House of Representatives
Consideration of Senate message Details: House agreed to Senate amendments	23 Jun 2021


Finally passed both Houses	23 Jun 2021
Assent Act no: 76 Year: 2021	23 Jul 2021

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

First reading

As passed by both Houses

Explanatory memoranda

Addendum to explanatory memorandum

Explanatory memorandum

Supplementary explanatory memorandum

Transcript of speeches

Proposed amendments

Senate

Australian Greens [sheet 1299]
MCKIM, Sen Nick

Australian Greens [sheet 1276]
MCKIM, Sen Nick

Australian Greens [sheet 1275]
MCKIM, Sen Nick

Australian Greens [sheet 1235]
MCKIM, Sen Nick

Government [sheet SW125]

Opposition [sheet 1319]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1317]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1316]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1315]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1304]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1312]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1305]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Opposition [sheet 1303]
PRATT, Sen Louise

Schedules of amendments

Schedule of the amendments made by the Senate

Notes

Referred to Committee (25/02/2021): Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (12/03/2021)
Considered by scrutiny committee (17/03/2021): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report 5 of 2021
Considered by scrutiny committee (17/03/2021): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2021
An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au)

Helpful information

Text of bill

First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.