[no bill text published] New criteria for determining cyber abuse against Australian adults
Online Safety Amendment (Broadening Adult Cyber Abuse Protections) Bill 2026
Private Member's Bill1st House
2nd House
Law
Introduced by: Fatima Payman (AV)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Cyber abuse is now defined by whether a reasonable person would think material was intended to affect a specific Australian adult; that person in the adult's position must also find the material menacing, harassing or seriously offensive.
Decision makers must consider if the material departs from generally accepted standards of morality, decency and propriety when deciding if it is seriously offensive.
Decision makers can consider the literary, artistic, educational, medical, legal or scientific character of the material.
Decision makers must check if the people in private sexual material consented to it being shared on a social media or internet service.
The law removes the specific definitions for serious harm and serious harm to mental health.