Carly’s Law: protecting children against online predators

<h2 class&equals;"article-title" align&equals;"left">The case of 15 year old South Australian school girl Carly Ryan &&num;8211&semi; who was groomed and tragically murdered by a predator online &&num;8211&semi; highlighted the dangers posed by various online mediums&comma; chat rooms and social networking sites&period;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<div class&equals;"article-content" align&equals;"left">&NewLine;<p>Education minister Simon Birmingham has announced that the federal government will be introducing tough new legislation aptly named&comma; Carly’s Law&comma; with penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment&comma; which will&colon;<br &sol;>&NewLine; • Make it a crime for a person over 18 years of age to use a carriage service to commit an act in preparation for&comma; or planning to&comma; cause harm or engage in sexual activity with a minor<br &sol;>&NewLine; • Make it a crime to misrepresent one’s age for the purpose of engaging in these activities <br &sol;>&NewLine; • Allow police to intervene much earlier to protect our kids from harm in the online environment&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>These laws will complement other education and prevention measures that our Government has introduced to keep our kids safe when they&&num;8217&semi;re using the internet which can be accessed <a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;senatorsimonbirmingham&period;cmail20&period;com&sol;t&sol;d-l-hdohhl-utuijkjir-c&sol;">here<&sol;a>&comma; <a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;senatorsimonbirmingham&period;cmail20&period;com&sol;t&sol;d-l-hdohhl-utuijkjir-q&sol;">here<&sol;a> and <a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;senatorsimonbirmingham&period;cmail20&period;com&sol;t&sol;d-l-hdohhl-utuijkjir-a&sol;">here<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;