Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications - Member for Mallee - Transcript - News24 - Sunday 30 August 2026

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‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS:  Consent in schools, online depictions of strangulation or suffocation, social media algorithms and harmful content, Prime Minister comments on Coalition, One Nation win in WA by-election, voter sentiment in regional Victoria

Seal  

The federal education minister is launching a review into consent programs at schools, it's in response to a series of high-profile sexual assault allegations involving students. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Jason Clare confirmed the Commonwealth will fund the review into the existing consent and respectful relationships education program. It is aimed at understanding the effectiveness of the scheme and whether it needs improving. Also, we have heard today that New South Wales opposition leader Kellie Sloane is calling on the Albanese government to introduce a UK-style ban on pornographic images portraying strangulation or suffocation. Well, for more, joining us live is Dr. Anne Webster. Thank you so much for joining us. What are your thoughts on this?

Webster  

Well, clearly it's incredibly disturbing. I mean, we've come a long way from barn dances and holding someone's hand, is what I would say, and social media obviously has a lot to answer for. The pornographic industry ... the fact is that every state and territory has criminalised strangulation. So therefore, the education component, which Jason Clare rightly says needs to be reviewed, so that young people understand that they are breaking the law and the harms that could potentially come from this, including death. This is an incredibly serious matter. You know, the whole algorithm ...we see what happened with Meta this last week and the fact that they've settled out of court. Good on them. Algorithms play a very large part in what young people and older people are consuming, and we want our young people to have healthy minds, healthy sexual relationships, and a future before them. So, a lot more needs to be done, and every state and territory, every education facility and the law courts need to be taking the appropriate action so that this ceases.

Seal  

Yeah, it's it is a very big topic indeed. Also today at the Labor conference, the Prime Minister has certainly ramped up the rhetoric against One Nation at the Queensland Labor Conference. Here's a bit of what he had to say.

Albanese  

We have a Liberal Party that isn't Liberal. We have a National Party that certainly isn't National. And One Nation whose leader seeks to divide Australians and talks Australia down, whether she is here or overseas. What's your reaction to what the Prime Minister said?

Webster  

Well, the pot calling the kettle black. I mean, my goodness me, we have never had a Prime Minister who has divided Australia more regularly than this Prime Minister, Albanese needs to have a look in the mirror and see the number of subjects that he has attempted to divide Australia, and I find it appalling. It's the usual hubris and smug attitude that he has to, you know, making a one-off statement, 'Liberals aren't liberal', 'Nationals aren't ...' I mean, what does that even mean? And he can't be bothered explaining it because it sounds clever to him. It's not clever, and the the fact is that he needs to do a much better job. I think he's feeling the pressure of One Nation and their success. Obviously, Secret Harbour was last night. We still haven't got the final results, but it certainly looks like One Nation have taken that Labor seat. I'm thinking the Prime Minister is pretty nervous about that and trying to jolly along his conference attendees so that they feel better about the future. He's got his work cut out for him, and I think what we are seeing is that Australians are sick of the establishment. They are sick of not being listened to, and they are sick of people who take them for granted. I see it across my electorate, and I guarantee you, every electorate is the same.

Seal  

And we know you're in Victoria, Dr. Anne Webster. We've also just seen, as you mentioned, Secret Harbour, Luke Herdegen, the One Nation candidate there, looks like he's going to win -  Labor's conceded defeat. He said - Luke Herdegen from One Nation said - that they are the heartland now, meaning One Nation. Do you agree with those comments?

Webster  

Look, you know there is an old adage, Jaynie. Pride comes before a fall. Yes, there is a huge amount of support rolling behind Pauline Hanson and her party, but we need to just see how this all plays out in Victoria. There's certainly a lot of support for her in my electorate, I know that, and the four state seats that are represented in my electorate. But we need to see how people in the city respond to that. I think Secret Harbour ... you know, should give Labor a bit of reflection time on how Labor might sit in the coming months, both in Victoria and, of course, in the next couple of years in New South Wales, and then in the federal elections. So, there is a lot going on, and if we're all smart, if we're ... the big if here, if we're all smart as members of Parliament, we will be listening very, very hard to the people that we represent because that is our job, and then have the courage of our convictions to stand up for them.

Seal  

Dr. Anne Webster, thank you so much. It is going to be very interesting between now and the Victorian election, and no doubt we'll talk to you plenty more times before then. Take care. Thank you.

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