In a move to combat youth bullying South Coast MP Shelley Hancock has called for a nationwide ban on “poisonous” smart devices in schools.
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“It might sounds radical, but with suicide rates as high as they are we need to do something,” she said.
The former high school teacher has called for a ban on smart devices like phones and tablets in schools across the country and for access to social media to be restricted on school-owned devices.
“Clearly kids need access to computers at school, but we need restrictions to social media sites and for their own devices to be banned during school hours,” Mrs Hancock said said.
“We know bullying is occurring in schools, it always has, but it’s different now.
"Previously teachers have been able to see it, hear it and put a stop to it. But now, it’s happening on smart-devices and it goes undetected.
“From 9am until 3.30pm kids needs to be in a safe place where they can concentrate on learning and be protected from bullies.”
Despite not knowing Amy “Dolly” Everett, the 14-year-old girl from the NT who took her own life after being relentlessly bullied on social media, Mrs Hancock said she was touched by her story and that her “life won’t be wasted.”
“As a mother and grandmother my heart goes out to her family and loved ones at what must be a horrific time and one certainly they will barely, if ever, recover from,” she said.
“As a legislator I can ensure that Dolly’s life will not be wasted.”
Mrs Hancock labelled the youth-suicide rate to be a “national epidemic” and has called for immediate government action to be taken.
“Dolly’s death is the tragic catalyst that has brought the issue to the foreground,” Mrs Hancock said.
“Cyberbullying was on the agenda at the recent Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Federal Parliament’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee discussing its rising prevalence, along with the impact and the adequacy of existing laws to respond.
“The Council of Australian Governments rightly took the step of putting cyber bullying on the national agenda, but there needs to be more than just talk.
“This is a non-political, bi-partisan issue which we are all united in combating.”
Mrs Hancock said the government must address what is becoming a reoccurring problem for young people across the country with a nationwide policy.
“I made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee and welcomed their investigation into what more we can do to protect vulnerable children in our community,” she said.
The committee examined current legislation and both Federal and State criminal codes, however recommendations from groups at the inquiry differed on what measures should be implemented to combat cyberbullying, particularly amongst youth.
Since 2015 NSW Police officers have been trained how to investigate cybercrime.
Additionally, fines of up to $11,000 and prison terms of up to 10 years can apply in certain circumstance
“There is a new war being waged on our youth and the weapons are smart phones, tablets and computers,” Mrs Hancock said.
“Our schools are doing a great job, but a ban on smart devices would make it easier for them.
“Cyber bullying is a 24-hour sport and easily conducted in a veil of secrecy.”