Dr Bruce Flegg
Member for Moggill

The Bligh Labor Government should adopt the LNP’s cyber bullying laws as soon as possible and send a clear message that online intimidation is not acceptable, the State Opposition said today.

The call from the LNP’s Shadow Education Minister Dr Bruce Flegg comes as 20 school students were suspended over a Facebook page featuring posts that bullied a teacher.

Dr Flegg said cyber bullying in schools was a growing problem but the Bligh Labor Government seemed to have no coherent approach to address the issue.

"It is becoming all too common to hear of school students staging brutal attacks to film the violence on their mobile phones or posting offensive material online," he said.

"It is estimated one in 10 school children are victims of cyber bullying with mobile phones and social networking sites making it harder for school children to escape from their tormentors.

"Cyber bullying means the shame and anguish caused by a violent attack can continue even after the bruises have healed.

"It is important to send a message to students that these sort of actions are no more acceptable than any other form of intimidation."

Dr Flegg said he had introduced anti-cyber bullying laws into State Parliament last October that would allow for the immediate confiscation of devices used for recording or viewing images of violence against children, but Labor had so far refused to debate the proposal.

In addition, the LNP has also this week tabled draft legislation to amend the Criminal Code to include offences covering violence at schools, including banning fight clubs on school grounds.

"The LNP is committed to tackling youth violence and it is about time the Bligh Labor Government started showing a similar commitment instead of just grandstanding," Dr Flegg said.