Radio interview - Nova Sydney

MICHAEL WIPFLI, HOST: It is your Thursday morning, and it was a big day yesterday at Kirribilli House with the Prime Minister.

[AUDIO GRAB]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: It's a new day Australia for kids and social media. Any of the following ten platforms are off limits to anyone there under the age of 16. We're talking about Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Twitch and X.

WIPFLI: The Australian Government chose to show the world that it's okay to say to Big Tech, stop, this isn't working and we can do better for our kids.

RYAN FITZGERALD, HOST: That was Anderson Cooper, Prime Minister, on CNN last night. He spoke about it for six minutes. It's gone global. Congratulations. Historic day yesterday, PM.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I think congratulations are due to our entire nation for having the courage to take up the request, which has really come from parents who've lost a son or daughter and channelled that tragedy into a campaign. The 36 Month campaign there that Wippa and your team was involved with providing leadership for, has been so important. And we've taken this big step, and the world is not only watching, the world I have no doubt will follow. It was quite extraordinary yesterday here in Sydney to do interviews with CNN, BBC, Japanese TV. It just shows how significant this move is. It will save lives, and it will change lives for this and future generations.

WIPFLI: Right, it's been a great show of leadership and I love this, this post that I saw yesterday, it said this week, 2.6 million teens are freed from an experiment they never chose. And I think that says a lot, because not only that, as parents as well and everybody involved, I think we didn't realise what we were doing at the time and I don't think the intention from Big Tech was to do that also and have the impact it has. But unfortunately, that's how it' played out. So, to recognise it and be able to try and correct the problem, I think is a very brave move.

PRIME MINISTER: I think one of the most powerful contributions yesterday, apart from parents of course, like Wayne Holdsworth who lost his son Mac, was young Flossie. A 12 year old from Tasmania, who her mum had said to her, 'well, if you want to get a phone and go on to the social media apps, you need to investigate exactly what's happening, what are the consequences prior to you doing that?' And young Flossie did that. She connected up with a neuroscientist and went through the impact that it can have. The fact that the scrolling can stimulate chemicals in the brain that are essentially addictive and that have a real impact. And we know that the figures on mental health issues amongst young people have risen substantially. Seven out of ten children have been exposed to harmful content online. One in three children report their most recent experience of cyberbullying occurred on a social media platform. And three in five children report that their most recent experience of online grooming behaviour occurred on a social media platform. So, this is about keeping kids safe and allowing kids to have a childhood and allowing parents to have more peace of mind. There was that powerful drama produced in the UK about adolescence and growing up -

WIPFLI: Oh, yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: That I would encourage everyone to have a look at. It was quite frightening, the impact that it had. And, you know, I got asked a question yesterday by one group, he said, 'isn't this about, you know, people will be more isolated?' Well, there's nothing more isolating than a young person being in their bedroom, door shut and engaging, not even necessarily with real human beings. We don't know, that's the point, with AI and all of this dramatic growth in new technology, what the impact can be. And we as a society are saying enough is enough. We take back a bit of control here. That's essentially what is happening. And it is a proud moment to be an Australian, I believe, because we're really showing leadership.

KATE RITCHIE, HOST: Yeah. I think there'll be a very different summer for a lot of kids. You know, we're on the cusp of Christmas holidays and a summer that is gonna look very, very different.

FITZGERALD: Yeah. And the other thing as well for, for parents out there, was on media last night - I was watching quite a bit of it, but there was a lot of kids going, 'well, they haven't got me yet. They haven't got me yet'. So, for parents out there, some kids have been banned early if you're under 16. Some kids haven't even got, they haven't got to them yet. And, and you know what? Well, like Wip said, this is going to take time. It's a start. And a majority of these kids now won't be able to get back onto these social media platforms until they are 16. But be patient with this. It's not, it's not an overnight solution, is it, Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER: That's exactly right. And there'll be bumps in the road. This is something that's new. If it was easy, someone else would have done it. It's not easy, it's hard. And the eSafety Commissioner and her team have done a magnificent job. The Minister, Michelle Rowland, originally did a fantastic job with the support - I must say Peter Dutton was very supportive of this as well as Opposition Leader when we did the legislation. And then Anika Wells has done a great job as well. So, we're getting this done. It won't be smooth. It will be difficult. It is a chance though as well, for parents to have that discussion with their children. I'm sure there are discussions taking place over the brekky table, at night, their teachers will be discussing this with their students at school today. I'll visit a school in Canberra later this morning to talk with young people themselves. There were a number of young people here yesterday as well who are saying this is great. This will force me to get out and play sport and do things and talk to each other rather than just engage in online.

RITCHIE: Yeah,

WIPFLI: Absolutely. And I would suggest too, Fitzy -

PRIME MINISTER: That would be a great thing for physical and mental health.

FITZGERALD: Actually, just on physical activities. We just need to ask Prime Minister, how - did you get on a jet ski? What did you do on the honeymoon? What did you get up to?

WIPFLI: What a segue.

FITZGERALD: I, I mean, you know -

PRIME MINISTER: That was smooth.

WIPFLI: Seamless.

RITCHIE: It was seamless.

WIPFLI: Plays the best, Prime Minister.

FITZGERALD: I mean you weren't scrolling on your honeymoon Anthony, that's for sure.

PRIME MINISTER: We certainly weren't. And I tell you what, that was an example of something being really healthy, where my office and people left us alone, and just not looking at the phone was a great thing. And no, it was very relaxing, and it was just great to spend a whole four days with just ourselves, myself and Jodie.

WIPFLI: I love that.

PRIME MINISTER: It was relaxing. People were great. I've got to say the media have been great in leaving us alone as well. We were in South Australia, and so I wanted to -

WIPFLI: Barossa?

PRIME MINISTER: Thinking about where we're going. No, we were at Kangaroo Island. And when we were talking about where we would go, in part, the South Australian tourism industry have been under pressure because the algal bloom issue down there, so it was a way as well of letting people know South Australia is open for business. Get down there.

RITCHIE: There we go.

FITZGERALD: Good on you, Prime Minister.

WIPFLI: Thank you. We have one more day to go, Prime Minister, so, on air here for 2025, so we wish you the best and Merry Christmas for you and family.

PRIME MINISTER: Merry Christmas to you and to all of your listeners. And have a fantastic break and thank you for having me on the program over various periods and a whole range of issues this year. I look forward to coming in the studio there early next year.

FITZGERALD: Good on you, Albo.

RITCHIE: Thank you very much. Merry Christmas.

WIPFLI: Good on you, buddy.

PRIME MINISTER: Merry Christmas. Ciao.