MEDIA RELEASE
Family First’s South Australian lead Upper House candidate, Deepa Mathew, has today rejected calls to introduce “porn literacy” into the national curriculum, saying it is not the role of schools to teach children about pornography.
“Of course we should protect children from pornography—but exposing them to explicit material under the guise of ‘education’ is not the answer,” Ms Mathew said.
“We don’t fight fire with fire. Teaching children about porn in the classroom will only normalise it. That is a betrayal of the innocence we are supposed to safeguard.”
The proposal, championed by sex education crusader Chanel Contos, would see discussions about pornography included in the national curriculum from 2026.
But Ms Mathew said schools should be places of learning, not induction into adult sexual concepts.
“This is a deeply concerning overreach. Children as young as 11 are already being exposed to porn online. The answer is stronger protections and better parental tools—not ‘porn classes’ in school.”
Family First believes parents, not activists, should determine how and when their children are taught about sensitive issues.
“We will fight to stop any attempt to sexualise the school curriculum further,” Ms Mathew said.
“Pornography is harmful. But putting graphic material in front of children in the name of ‘literacy’ is not harm reduction—it is harm.”
“Let’s tackle the problem at the source—not open the school gate to it,” Ms Mathew said.