Today Show with Karl Stefanovic
Nine Network
15 August 2018
6.14 am
E & OE
STEFANOVIC:
People who share intimate or explicit images of their former partners could end up behind bars and hit with massive fines under news laws set to be introduced into Parliament today. The crackdown on so called revenge porn is being spearheaded by the Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. Mitch Good morning to you.
FIFIELD:
Good Morning Karl.
STEFANOVIC:
So what are you going to do and is it going to stop it?
FIFIELD:
Look Karl, we do have some existing criminal penalties for what is known as revenge porn or the sharing of intimate images without consent. We don’t think that’s strong enough. We want to have a specific aggravated offence that sends a clear message to creeps, that it’s not on. And we’re going to have new penalties that you can go to jail for five years or, if you’re a repeat offender, you can go to jail for seven years.
STEFANOVIC:
Gee they’re severe penalties, how bad does the offence need to be?
FIFIELD:
We want to create a specific aggravated offence. At the moment there are general criminal penalties. We want to make it clear that this specific activity is wrong. It’s not acceptable. That if you commit these crimes, you will go to jail. Five years. But, if you are a repeat offender you can go to jail for up to seven years.
About one in five Australians, in surveys, have reported that they’re the subject of this activity. We’ve got to make it clear that the ordinary laws of the land, the ordinary acceptable standards of behaviour that apply in the offline world, also apply in the online world.
STEFANOVIC:
Step in the right direction. Okay, just finally, Fraser Anning, have you got words?
FIFIELD:
Look, this is deeply regrettable, Karl. I thought we had moved beyond this in the Parliament. Australia is a warm and open nation. We accept people who come here the right way. We accept people who come through our humanitarian program. All we ask is that people sign up to our values and contribute. And we are very proud of the fact that we have a non-discriminatory immigration policy. And that’s the way it should be.
STEFANOVIC:
Really good to talk to you, Mitch, thanks for your time this morning.
FIFIELD:
Thanks Karl.
[ends]