Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026

Stage by Stage

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript. In date order, both chambers.

1. Monday 29 June 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The Minister for Communications introduced legislation to strengthen enforcement mechanisms for the existing social media minimum age law. The bill aims to address non-compliance by major platforms by increasing penalties and expanding the eSafety Commissioner's investigative powers. The Minister cited positive outcomes from the initial six months of the ban, including reduced online bullying and improved sleep for young people. The debate concluded with the motion for second reading being moved, though no vote was recorded in the provided transcript.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned after the Minister moved that the bill be read a second time.

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2. Tuesday 30 June 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The debate centred on the Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026, which aimed to strengthen enforcement of the existing social media minimum age law by increasing penalties and expanding the eSafety Commissioner's powers. Government members argued these changes were necessary to hold tech companies accountable for non-compliance and protect children, citing early positive outcomes. Opposition and independent members criticised the original ban as ineffective and poorly designed, noting high rates of circumvention and arguing that stronger penalties alone did not address systemic issues like vague definitions or the need for a broader digital duty of care. One speaker acknowledged the legislation as an admission that previous measures were insufficient while crediting the Coalition for originating the policy.

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3. Wednesday 1 July 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The debate centred on strengthening enforcement powers for the eSafety Commissioner regarding the social media minimum age ban. The government and an independent member supported the bill to increase penalties and investigative capabilities, while opposition members argued that current enforcement was weak and called for broader accountability measures. The government rejected an opposition amendment unrelated to the bill's core purpose. The bill was ultimately defeated in the House of Representatives.

   Outcome: The bill was not passed, with a division result of 43 votes against and 92 votes for.

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4. Wednesday 1 July 2026 · House of Representatives

   Third Reading
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5. Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Senate

   First Reading
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6. Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Minister for Youth introduced two bills to modernise sporting event protections and strengthen online safety enforcement. The first bill replaces legislative schedules with a rules-based framework for protecting major sporting event intellectual property. The second bill increases penalties for social media platforms failing to enforce age restrictions and expands the eSafety Commissioner's information-gathering powers. Both bills were supported by the government, with the Minister highlighting recent successes in reducing underage social media access and boosting sports participation. The debate concluded with the consideration of both bills being adjourned to future dates.

   Outcome: Further consideration of the Major Sporting Events bill was adjourned until 11 August 2026, and the Online Safety bill was adjourned until 25 August 2026.

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7. Tuesday 8 September 2026 · Senate

   Second Reading

   Senators debated the Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026, which expanded the eSafety Commissioner's powers and doubled civil penalties for non-compliance. Coalition and One Nation senators opposed the legislation, characterizing the original ban as ineffective and the new powers as draconian, while Labor and Greens senators supported it as a necessary accountability measure. The Greens senator further argued that the bill failed to address systemic harms from algorithms and advocated for a broader digital duty of care model. The debate was interrupted before a conclusion was reached.

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8. Wednesday 9 September 2026 · Senate

   In Committee

   The Senate considered government amendments to strengthen the eSafety Commissioner's enforcement powers, including examination powers and increased penalties for non-compliance with the social media age ban. The government argued these measures were necessary to hold big tech accountable, while the opposition opposed them as overreach that could target parents and children, instead proposing amendments for algorithmic transparency and access to parental safety tools. The government rejected the opposition's amendments, stating they fell outside the bill's scope and would be addressed in upcoming digital duty of care legislation. The government amendments were agreed to, while the outcome of the opposition amendments was not stated in the transcript.

   Outcome: The government amendments were agreed to; the result of the opposition amendments was not stated.

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9. Wednesday 9 September 2026 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Senate debated amendments to the Online Safety Act 2021 aimed at bolstering enforcement of the social media minimum age framework. The government argued that enhanced powers for the eSafety Commissioner, including summons capabilities and increased penalties, were necessary to hold big tech accountable. Opposition members and crossbenchers criticised the bill for expanding bureaucratic power, infringing on free speech, and undermining parental authority, with some calling for broader reforms regarding algorithms and digital duty of care. The bill passed the second reading with a vote of 31 to 22.

   Outcome: The bill passed the second reading with a division result of 31 votes in favour and 22 against.

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10. Thursday 10 September 2026 · House of Representatives

    Consideration of Senate Message

    The House of Representatives considered Senate amendments to the Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026. The government argued the changes strengthened enforcement against social media companies and protected children, while the opposition opposed the amendments, citing excessive powers granted to the eSafety Commissioner and lack of judicial oversight. The government moved for the amendments to be considered immediately and agreed to. The opposition argued the bill expanded coercive state power without proper scrutiny. The amendments were passed by the House.

    Outcome: The amendments were passed by the House with votes of 96 to 36 and 95 to 37.

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11. Thursday 10 September 2026 · Senate

    In Committee

    The Senate considered amendments to the Online Safety Amendment Bill during committee stage. The Australian Greens moved to increase penalties to a percentage of global turnover and demanded transparency for researchers, arguing current fines were insufficient deterrents. The government opposed these changes, citing implementation difficulties and stating that transparency issues would be addressed in separate digital duty of care legislation. The Coalition moved amendments to clarify enforcement scope and introduce provisions for third-party digital safety services, which the government rejected due to security concerns. The bill passed with government amendments agreed to, while Greens and Coalition amendments were defeated.

    Outcome: Government amendments were passed, while the Greens' and Coalition's amendments were not passed; the bill was agreed to as amended.

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12. Thursday 10 September 2026 · Senate

    Third Reading
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