Key Points
- eSafety Commissioner to make call on Roblox inclusion in under 16 social media ban
- Jay Wetherill named as next High Commissioner to the UK
- Oscar Piastri voices frustration at placing fifth at Sao Paulo Grand Prix
TRANSCRIPT
A month out from Australia's world-first social media laws coming into effect, the Prime Minister has backed his government's initiative.
Platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Reddit will fall under the new age restrictions
Accounts for people under 16 years old will be deactivated or deleted when the law comes into force on December 10.
Mr Albanese said the ban will empower parents.
"This is about letting kids be kids. It's also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children. We don't argue that these laws will be perfect in their implementation. We do argue very strongly though that this is the government of Australia setting down what we expect to happen including reminding social media companies that they have a social responsibility and that they need to be conscious about their social licence, like other businesses."
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The government has come under attack for leaving popular gaming platforms like Roblox off the list, after an investigation by the Guardian newspaper discovered graphic adult content was available even with parental controls in place.
Roblox is the subject of a number of lawsuits that allege the platform has been used to exploit children.
Communications Minister Anika Wells says at this stage, Roblox is not included in the ban, but she says that could change based on an assessment from the eSafety Commissioner.
"She assessed that users would not be there for the social media features. If that was to change - or if we were to detect that people were swarming, there and there was more harm being created; then absolutely Roblox would be in the sights of the eSafety Commissioner."
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The former premier of South Australia - Jay Wetherill - has been named the next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
He served as the state's 45th premier and helped secure major deals to see submarines constructed in South Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Wetherill was an entirely appropriate pick for the post.
"Jay is well placed to take forward AUKUS in our nation's interests. Particularly with SSN AUKUS, which we will be doing in partnership with the United Kingdom."
Stephen Smith will leave the role and was praised by the Prime Minister for playing a key role in defence and security arrangements, including in the Coalition of the Willing.
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As Typhoon Fung-Wong departs the Philippines for the South China Sea, an unknown number of people are missing in its wake.
The second major storm to hit the country in a week killed 2 people after it made landfall last night with more than a million forced to leave their homes.
Just days earlier, Typhoon Kalmaegi swept through the islands of the central Philippines, claiming at least 224 lives.
Nancy Simmons has told SBS Filipino that she has not been able to contact loved ones who live in the province of Catanduanes - an area hard hit by the latest super typhoon.
"I hope that they are ok, everyone is ok. I have been worried last night; I have not been sleeping in the night. I've been worried about what is, what's going to happen. Because I cannot contact my family, because due to signal, satellite. There is no satellite in some of the areas.
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Most of Melbourne and the surrounding regions would be designated as native title under a claim filed by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people in the Federal Court.
The Traditional Owners have lodged an application seeking legal recognition of their people's cultural, traditional rights and continuous connection to the land and water.
Covering thousands of square kilometers, the claim area includes most of metropolitan Melbourne.
Traditional Owners are seeking the right to "speak for", make decisions on, have access to and protect local areas of significance.
The claim would not override existing property rights and would not affect private homes, businesses or public infrastructure, according to the group.
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And in Formula One, Oscar Piastri's hopes of winning his maiden F1 drivers' championship this season have suffered a setback, after a controversial penalty at the Brazil Grand Prix.
Race officials slapped Piastri with a 10-second penalty for causing a collision, which sent Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashing out of Sunday's São Paulo Grand Prix.
The decision robbed the Australian of a podium finish and allowed race winner Lando Norris to pull further ahead in the drivers' championship.
Ferrari's Leclerc, whose race ended with the collision, says Piastri should not have to shoulder all of the blame.
Post-race, Piastri was clearly frustrated.
"I mean I got a really good safety car restart and went to the inside and yeah, I put myself up the inside pretty comfortably so ... yeah, I mean there was obviously a bit of a lock-up but I couldn't go any furtehr left than I already was, and I can't really just disappear so yeah... then after that I'm not sure we made the right calls either, so ... a tough afternoon."
