Australian lawmakers are considering a ban on pornography depicting strangulation and choking, following the death of a 16-year-old girl in Sydney and growing concerns about the prevalence of sexual strangulation among young people.

Government Considers UK-Style Ban

Members of Australia's Parliament are now considering a prohibition on pornography depicting strangulation and choking. Tanya Plibersek, a Labor MP and the social services minister for the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, announced the government's intent over the weekend of August 30, 2026, with other leaders confirming the move.

Plibersek stated on the Insiders program, a political and current events television show aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), that the government is considering this proposal "very seriously." She also said, "There is something wrong with a situation where 60 percent of young people say they've experienced strangulation." Plibersek added, "This is not sex education. It's not real life."

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Albanese's office told News.com.au that the Albanese Government is "deeply concerned about young people being exposed to sexual strangulation and other harmful behaviours through online content such as pornography." The spokesperson also referenced Australia's online safety laws, which include protections to prevent children from being exposed to age-inappropriate content. These laws, under the Age-Restricted Material Codes, require online platforms to prevent children from accidental exposure to harmful or age-restricted material, including age verification, image blurring, and effective reporting mechanisms.

Other reports indicate that Australian Attorney-General Michelle Rowland is working with Plibersek and other senior Labor and Liberal MPs to outlaw the practice and criminalize it. Plibersek also told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday, August 30, 2026, that "There is no safe way to strangle someone."

The inspiration for the potential ban has been drawn from the United Kingdom. Last year, Parliament in the U.K. adopted amendments to a Crime and Policing Bill that outlawed depictions of strangulation in online pornographic content, even if the content is produced consensually between parties. The UK laws criminalized both possession and publication of images depicting strangulation and suffocation.

Catalyst for Action: Sydney Teen's Death

Calls for the prohibition of choking depictions in pornography intensified following the recent death of a 16-year-old girl from Sydney. The New South Wales Police believe the cause of death was a "suspected sexual choking act." The girl was found unresponsive when medical first responders arrived on the scene. She died at a hospital in a Sydney suburb days later. The girl is believed to have had a seizure as a result of asphyxiation after allegedly being choked during consensual sexual intercourse. Her death is being investigated by NSW police.

The death of the 16-year-old girl has sparked a nationwide discussion on pornography, social media algorithms, and violence against women. Concerns are also mounting about the increase in rates of peer-to-peer abuse among adolescents, with teenagers reportedly overtaking adults as the most likely perpetrators of sexual violence towards young people.

Prevalence of Sexual Strangulation Among Youth

Plibersek highlighted the prevalence of sexual strangulation during sexual encounters among young people. A 2024 study found that 57 percent of 18 to 35 year olds have experienced strangulation in the bedroom. The Breathless campaign found that 57 percent of young Australians reported being strangled by a partner during sex, while 51 percent said they had strangled a partner during sex. Among women, 61 percent said they had experienced strangulation during sex.

Amid debate about the amount of misogynistic or violent content to which young men are exposed, Plibersek said the government would also consider allowing users to opt in or opt out of social media algorithms.

Key Facts

  • Australian lawmakers are considering a ban on pornography depicting strangulation and choking.
  • Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the government's intent over the weekend of August 30, 2026.
  • The move follows the death of a 16-year-old girl in Sydney from a suspected sexual choking act.
  • A 2024 study indicated 57 percent of 18 to 35 year olds have experienced strangulation during sex.
  • The proposed ban draws inspiration from similar laws introduced in the United Kingdom last year.
  • The Albanese Government expressed deep concern about young people's exposure to sexual strangulation through online content.