The Guardian
· collected 2026-10-11 · by Tom McIlroy Political editor
Greens leader Sarah Hanson-Young is calling for stricter penalties in Labor's proposed digital duty of care laws aimed at regulating big tech companies. Hanson-Young wants individuals harmed online to have the right to sue and receive financial compensation, and she advocates for fines based on a percentage of global revenue rather than fixed amounts. This approach contrasts with Labor’s current proposal which includes maximum fines over A$100 million but lacks provisions for private legal action against tech companies. The Greens' stance could complicate Labor's legislative agenda as they seek support for their remaining budget bills and other initiatives.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The Greens will push Labor to dramatically toughen new laws designed to rein in big tech, calling for individuals to have the right to take platforms to court and win financial compensation.
asserted
individuals → push → compensation
As Labor prepares to introduce its planned digital duty of care laws into parliament this week, the Greens say they will drive a tough bargain in exchange for support, including pushing for fines by the eSafety commissioner to be levied as a percentage of corporations’ global revenue rather than set amounts.
asserted
fines → prepare → amounts
The Coalition is opposed to the duty of care plan, giving the Greens the upper hand in negotiations.
asserted
Coalition → give → negotiations
Their communications spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, said the laws should do more to address the addictive nature of platforms.
asserted
laws → say → platforms
“To meaningfully change the behaviour of big tech companies, the digital duty of care laws must include the right for Australians who have been harmed online to be able to take legal action and seek compensation for the damage done,” she said.
asserted
she → change → damage
“Enforcement of the digital duty of care cannot be left to the eSafety commissioner alone.
asserted
Enforcement → leave → commissioner
“To really put Australians’ online safety at the heart of this reform, individuals and the community need to have the right to take on big tech through a private right of action.”
asserted
individuals → put → action
He has flagged a tougher negotiating approach than under his predecessor, Larissa Waters, potentially frustrating the government’s agenda in the second half of the year.
asserted
He → flag → year
Shoebridge is expected to introduce a bill to stop the importation of so-called “pervert glasses” and other wearable technology this week.
asserted
Shoebridge → expect → importation
Labor wants progress on its remaining budget bills, including moves to make tax treatment for trusts less generous.
asserted
treatment → want → trusts
Last month the government said it would legislate the duty of care and establishing fines of more than A$100m for platforms not protecting users from harm.
asserted
it → say → harm
Popular platforms as well as online games, apps and AI chatbots will be required to protect against specific harms, including pornography; eating disorder content; misogynistic content; content that glorifies crime or life-endangering stunts; and content that could cause serious distress, including abuse and bullying.
uncertain
that → require → abuse
The regulator, the eSafety commissioner, will have the power to issue removal notices to companies, with operators required to document measures taken to address online harms.
asserted
operators → have → harms
Users over 16 years of age will also be given new tools to turn off algorithm-driven content.
asserted
Users → give → content
But Hanson-Young has warned that the proposed fines are too small to change the behaviour of tech giants.
asserted
fines → warn → giants
“Fines for breaches must be tied to a percentage of global revenue,” she said.
asserted
she → tie → revenue
“The threat of serious fines and compensation is the only way to force these companies to clean up their act and proactively provide a safe environment for their users.”
asserted
threat → force → users
The communications minister, Anika Wells, will address the National Press Club on Thursday.
asserted
minister → address → Thursday
She has pledged to work constructively with the Greens and any other party to deliver basic safety standards.
asserted
She → pledge → standards
“We want these platforms to embed safety by design,” Wells said.
asserted
Wells → want → design
“Some of them have had 15 years to do it of their own accord.
asserted
Some → have → accord
They haven’t, so now we’re going to legislate that they must.”
asserted
they → have → ?
The shadow communications spokesperson, Sarah Henderson, warned on Sunday the duty of care laws could restrict free speech.
uncertain
laws → warn → speech
“At stake is something generations of Australians have fought and died to defend,” she told the Conservative Political Action Conference.
asserted
she → fight → Conference
“Your freedom of speech questions authority, to challenge government, to expose injustice, and above all, the freedom to disagree.”
asserted
freedom → question → all
The Aporia
