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A new legislation will mean predators who groom children online will be the target of tough new laws.

The legislation, introduced by the federal government on Thursday, will give police the power to intervene before predators have the chance to act and before a child is harmed, reports 9 news.

A new sentence of 10 years in jail for convicted offenders is also included in the draft laws.

It comes 10 years after 15-year-old, Carly Ryan, was murdered by a 50-year-old man who posed online as a teenage boy.

Her mother, Sonya Ryan, has worked with the government on developing the legislation.

“This bill will ensure young Australians have a greater protection from online predators and serve as a significant deterrent for those who would do them harm,” Justice Minister Michael Keenan told parliament.

What is grooming?

Pia Marshall, previously shared a post on MoM about keeping your children safe online, she wrote, “Online predators frequent chat rooms and online video games, posing their profile as a young boy or girl.

Grooming a child online, is similar to that of grooming a child offline. ‘Grooming is the predatory act of maneuvering another individual into a position that makes them more isolated, dependent, likely to trust and more vulnerable to abusive behaviour.’

It starts with the predator striking up a conversation. They then begin to show an interest in your child and form some sort of ‘friendship’ with them.

Worst case scenario, your son or daughter organises to meet their ‘new’ friend, putting themselves in potential danger.”

Last week we shared how a young girl was targeted online via the popular app – musical.ly. Her Melbourne mother was horrified when a stranger calling himself ‘the real Justin Bieber’ asked her eight-year-old daughter, Charlie, to send him nude photographs. Read the full story here.

Last month we also shared a Victorian man pleaded guilty to 62 abuse charges after he coerced young girls into sending him explicit photos and videos. Read that horrifying story here.

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  • ensure our children’s safety! that is the priority! that is all! protect them

    Reply

  • Makes me so angry that locking these sickos up isn’t easier.

    Reply

  • Thanks for your post. It is so hard to keep tabs on children’s cyber work without looking as though you don’t trust your kids. It’s hard for them to understand that it’s the nasties out there we are concerned about.

    Reply

  • This I should such good news. There aren’t enough laws in place to protect our children

    Reply

  • Thanks for this posting, really helpful so we won’t fall for the scams.

    Reply

  • A tough new law for this sounds good, the tougher the better !

    Reply

  • The sooner the new bill is passed and gazetted the better.
    Hopefully victims will contact the Police and not meet with suspects alone.
    Let undercover police with support staff meet the offender.

    Reply

  • I asm 100% for the new laws,it is a positive move!

    Reply

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