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NSW inquiry into sexualisation continues

A parliamentary inquiry looking into the sexualisation of young people has heard current sexting laws need to be amended.

A hearing into the sexualisation of young children will continue at NSW parliament.

The inquiry will continue on Friday, a day after it heard recent amendments to changes made to the Safe Schools anti-bullying program don't go far enough in preventing young people from being sexualised.

The program was embedding the sexualisation of children as young as 11 by promoting sex toys, teaching them about homosexuality and exposing them to inappropriate images, the Australian Family Association told the inquiry on Thursday.

The program, which targets lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, was controversially amended last month after a federal government review found several lessons and content were inappropriate for children.

The inquiry also heard from youth advocate group Youth Action, which said state legislation and education programs had fallen behind young people's sexual practices.

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Current sexting laws needed to be amended so young people wouldn't be criminalised for expressing their sexuality in a healthy manner, Youth Action CEO Katie Acheson argued.

Ms Acheson also called for laws relating to cyber-bullying and revenge porn to be strengthened, including giving NSW Police the power to issue take-down notices for non-consenting content.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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