Australia news live: eSafety chief grilled on Guardian’s Roblox investigation; Bruce Lehrmann to learn fate of defamation appeal | Australia news
Following Guardian investigation, eSafety investigated on Roblox
independent senator David Pocock Last night the Senate eSafety commissioner was asked about Guardian Australia’s investigation into Roblox and predictions about what children might experience on the platform.
Since Roblox is not subject to an under-16 social media ban, Pocock asked whether Roblox is considered a gaming platform or a platform that “really enables social interactions.”
Julie Inman Grant He responded by detailing the changes Roblox announced would use age assurance to separate age groups from interacting with each other.
eSafety officials said the primary purpose is considered gaming, which is one of Roblox’s exemptions to the ban, but as services evolve over time and more features with a social aspect are added, this is something platforms need to constantly evaluate themselves on whether they fall within the scope of the ban.
important events
Union asks workplace regulators to investigate ANZ
Jonathan Barrett
Financial Sector Association (FSU) has called for an investigation into ANZ’s management of major redundancies after accusing the bank of failing to act on serious health and safety concerns raised by workers.
FSU’s decision to write to workplace health and safety regulators across Australia follows the major bank’s decision to cut 3,500 jobs, including some just before Christmas.
ANZ’s chief executive, Nuno MatosHe told parliament last month that the cuts were “not something I’m proud of” but added that they were “in the best interests of our customers” because the bank’s operations had become so complex.
FSU national president Wendy Street in question:
[Matos has] He refused to delay the layoffs of employees at risk of being laid off in December, refused to provide clarity on extraordinary redundancies and failed to show even basic compassion for people under huge stress in the run-up to Christmas.
People are experiencing difficulties because they are faced with uncertainty during the most stressful time of the year.
ANZ declined to comment.
Indigenous Australians twice as likely to face barriers to accessing the internet, research finds
Douglas Smith
Indigenous Australians are twice as likely as other Australians to face barriers to accessing, purchasing and using the internet, according to a university report.
The Mapping the Digital Divide report, conducted by RMIT and Swinburne University of Technology, found that the barriers are much greater for those living in remote parts of the country, with three in four Indigenous people living in remote and very remote communities experiencing digital exclusion.
Assoc. Daniel Featherstone In a statement from RMIT, it was stated that this means significant barriers to accessing and using online services that are essential for daily social, economic and cultural life.
He said:
Connectivity is an essential service today, especially in remote communities.
But there are a number of barriers to having affordable and reliable internet access in these communities, largely due to limited or strained infrastructure, poor home connectivity, and high dependence on prepaid mobile services.
While there was a digital gap of 10.5 points in the study, Australian digital participation index The research also found an 8.7-point improvement in the digital capability of Indigenous people in very remote communities, rising from 45.8 in 2023 to 54.5 in 2025, according to the (ADII) study.
The ADII measures how Australians access and use digital technologies, taking into account digital skills and affordability out of 100.
Good morning
And welcome to a new day. Nick Visser We’re here to take over – let’s get to it.
Bruce Lehrmann will learn the outcome of his defamation appeal
Former political personnel Bruce Lehrmann today he will find out whether a second return to the lion’s den compensates for his loss in the defamation case against Network Ten and the journalist Lisa WilkinsonAAP reported.
The 30-year-old actor filed a defamation lawsuit due to his interview Brittany Higgins In the Project in 2021.
in 2024 Judge Michael Lee Making a decision about Lehrmann, the defendant said in his decision that Higgins’ allegations that Lehrmann raped her in the Parliament House two years ago were established on the balance of probabilities.
In his decision he commented: “Mr Lehrmann, having escaped from the lions’ den, made the mistake of returning to get his hat.”
Lehrmann challenged that finding, arguing that the judge at a two-day hearing in August erred in finding that Ten and Wilkinson had legally justified the rape charge.
After months of deliberation, the full federal court panel will make its decision today.
josh taylor
More Roblox questions from last night:
David Pocock He asked if eSafety had conducted its own experiments similar to those our reporter conducted Sarah Martin To see what Roblox features are like.
Inman Grant It said it was evaluating whether eSafety had the legal ability to create accounts for its tests.
We look at a variety of factors as experts do to determine what we consider relative risk. This is where the tests are done.
[On the weekend] I read often 404 Media or Guardian or whatever, or Wired and sender [my team] Some research to look into.
So we’re doing this. We do some of our own testing. We exercise our transparency mandate, but we also receive complaints from the general public every day through our complaints programmes.
Following Guardian investigation, eSafety investigated on Roblox
independent senator David Pocock Last night the Senate eSafety commissioner was asked about Guardian Australia’s investigation into Roblox and predictions about what children might experience on the platform.
Since Roblox is not subject to an under-16 social media ban, Pocock asked whether Roblox is considered a gaming platform or a platform that “really enables social interactions.”
Julie Inman Grant He responded by detailing the changes Roblox announced would use age assurance to separate age groups from interacting with each other.
eSafety officials said the primary purpose is considered gaming, which is one of Roblox’s exemptions to the ban, but as services evolve over time and more features with a social aspect are added, this is something platforms need to constantly evaluate themselves on whether they fall within the scope of the ban.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I Martin Farrer with the best night stories and then Nick Visser will take the helm.
It was a busy night for Senate projections; The eSafety commissioner discussed issues related to the social media ban on those under 16. First independent senator David Pocock he asked Julie Inman Grant About Guardian Australia’s investigation into Roblox and why the platform is not subject to a ban. Inman Grant also told senators that he rejected allegations from a US congressman that he was a “global takedown fanatic”. More is coming.
Indigenous Australians are twice as likely as other Australians to face barriers to accessing, purchasing and using the internet, according to a university report. Minding the Digital Gap found that poor infrastructure, poor home connectivity and dependence on prepaid mobile services hinder access. Sooner.
And this morning the federal court will announce its decision. Bruce Lehrmannfiled an appeal against loss of defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson. We will share all the developments with you.
