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AAP
AAP
Politics
Maeve Bannister

Reform to tackle online safety challenge

Amanda Rishworth says laws to protect privacy and safety need to work together. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Women's online safety and the use of online technology to cause harm will be an ongoing challenge for the federal government as it looks to end gender-based violence in one generation.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said existing laws were being stretched by technological advances and reforms were being examined as part of a national plan to end violence against women and children.

Ms Rishworth said state, territory and federal governments needed to be constantly on guard to make sure laws were fit for purpose.

"We need to look at the role electronic or other technological advances can have in targeting women and make sure we are putting appropriate safeguards in place," she told Sky News.

"We need to make sure (women) do feel safe and they've got confidence in our laws."

In NSW this week a man alleged by police to have had a long history of domestic violence was charged with the murder of a woman he met online.

The case has sparked calls for reforms to stop people with a known violent background registering on dating apps.

Ms Rishworth said laws to protect privacy and safety needed to work together.

"Every death is an absolute tragedy and we need to make sure women in particular are safe," she said.

"There are some really significant challenges with the interaction of privacy law.

"I'm not a lawyer but I think we need to be constantly monitoring about whether our laws are fit for purpose."

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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