The federal government is considering a ban on depictions of strangulation in pornography following the death of a 16-year-old girl in a suspected case of choking during sex.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government was looking “very seriously” at criminalising pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation, following a similar ban introduced in the UK last year.
“There is something wrong with a situation where 60 per cent of young people say they’ve experienced strangulation during sexual encounters,” she told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
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“There is no safe way to strangle someone.”
The push comes after a 16-year-old girl died in hospital last Tuesday, days after she was found unresponsive at a home in Elanora Heights on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Police are investigating whether the teenager died from asphyxiation after being choked during consensual sexual activity.
Plibersek described the teenager’s death as “absolutely heartbreaking” and said the government would also revisit consent and respectful relationship education.
Assistant Minister for Women Rebecca White backed further action.
“I’ve heard too many stories where women have experienced instances of extraordinarily traumatic health outcomes from strangulation,” she said.
“Concussion is another area where we’re seeing an increase in violence against women having a significant impact, and I’ve been raising that with them [Minister for Women Katy Gallagher and Minister for Health Mark Butler].
“I would definitely support any effort we can make to keep women safer.”
Calls for a ban have also come from NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane, who has written to the prime minister urging the government to outlaw strangulation pornography.
Sloane said on Monday that consent education was “critical”.
“Parents play a major role when it comes to consent education,” she told ABC radio.
“It’s a hard conversation to have with your kids. But around consent, we need to model that behaviour as well.”
But Consent Labs chief executive Angelique Wan warned banning the content alone would have limited impact without better education about sexual violence and pornography.
“We can’t be having the conversation about a ban without also talking about education at the same time,” she told AAP.
“Because our young people will be left in the same position — they will still be curious.
“Which is why we need to be providing them with education to develop those critical thinking, digital and media literacy skill sets; that’s going to equip them for the rest of their life.”
– With AAP
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000.
Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491