Impacts of harmful pornography on mental, emotional, and physical health

Introduction

This inquiry was established on 6 August 2024 to inquire into and report on the impacts of harmful pornography on mental, emotional, and physical health.

Sensitive content and themes in evidence

Due to the nature of this inquiry, some evidence presented in submissions and hearings may contain sensitive content and themes. This material could potentially be distressing for certain individuals.

Video recordings of hearings can be found on the NSW Parliament's YouTube channel.

Support for inquiry participants

If you feel distressed because of sensitive content encountered during this inquiry, we encourage you to reach out to the following resources:

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or text 0477 13 11 14. Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  • Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511. The Mental Health Line is NSW Health's free 24/7 statewide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services.
  • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800. Kids Helpline provides free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
  • 13Yarn: 13 92 76. 13Yarn is a free 24/7 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line.
  • QLife 1800 184 527. QLife provides phone or webchat peer support from 3pm-midnight for LGBTQIA+ people.
Terms of reference
Timeline
DateMilestone
Tue 06 August 2024Referred
Fri 31 January 2025Submissions closed
Mon 24 March 2025Hearing - Jubilee Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Mon 19 May 2025Hearing - Jubilee Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Mon 19 May 2025Hearing - Jubilee Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Fri 17 October 2025Final Report
Fri 17 October 2025Final Report
Mon 19 January 2026Government Response to Final Report due
Wed 21 January 2026Government Response to Final Report
Submissions

Submissions to this inquiry closed on 31 Jan 2025.

View all submissions

Hearings and transcripts
DateVenue details
Mon 24 March 2025Jubilee Room, Parliament House, SydneyView scheduleView transcript
Mon 19 May 2025Jubilee Room, Parliament House, SydneyView scheduleView transcript
Mon 19 May 2025Jubilee Room, Parliament House, SydneyView transcript
Reports and government responses

Government response - Report No 66 - Standing Committee on Social Issues - Impacts of Harmful Pornography on mental, emotional, and physical health

Tabled date:
Wed 21 January 2026
PDF1.12 MB

Report no. 66 - Standing Committee on Social Issues - Impacts of Harmful Pornography - 17 October 2025

Tabled date:
Fri 17 October 2025
Government response due:
Mon 19 January 2026
PDF1.72 MB

Report no. 66 - Impacts of Harmful Pornography on mental, emotional, and physical health - 17 October 2025 - Accessible

Tabled date:
Fri 17 October 2025
DOCX412.23 KB
Other documents
DateTypeTitle
Tue 21 October 2025Media ReleaseReport tabled (pdf, 119.42 KB)
Thu 18 September 2025OtherOnline Questionnaire Report (pdf, 670.02 KB)
Mon 30 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Advocate for Children Young People (pdf, 113.01 KB)
Mon 30 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Top Blokes (pdf, 81.02 KB)
Tue 24 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Jennifer Quincey, NSW Department of Communities and Justice (pdf, 88.63 KB)
Mon 23 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice NSW Health (pdf, 44.71 KB)
Mon 23 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Jesuit Social Services (pdf, 934.91 KB)
Mon 16 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice ACYP Strategic Plan 2024 Survey - Respectful Relationships (pdf, 1.28 MB)
Mon 16 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice ACYP Youth Week 2021 Survey - Sexual Consent Education (pdf, 6.61 MB)
Mon 16 June 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Teach Us Consent (pdf, 127.41 KB)
Sat 31 May 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mr Iain Corby, Age Verification Providers Association (pdf, 271.67 KB)
Tue 27 May 2025Correspondence Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner, providing further information on Safety by Design (pdf, 227.64 KB)
Thu 22 May 2025Correspondence Ms Maree Crabbe, Its time we talked (pdf, 315.71 KB)
Thu 15 May 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Council of Catholic School Parents - received 15 May 2025 (pdf, 878.25 KB)
Sat 03 May 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Collective Shout - received 3 May 2025 (pdf, 161.74 KB)
Fri 02 May 2025OtherCollective Shout - additional information - received 2 May 2025 (pdf, 294.74 KB)
Wed 30 April 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Eros Association - received 30 April 2025 (pdf, 93.94 KB)
Wed 30 April 2025Answers to Questions on Notice NSW Department of Education - received 30 April 2025 (pdf, 152.95 KB)
Wed 30 April 2025OtherCatholic Womens League NSW - additional information - received 30 April 2025 (pdf, 644.34 KB)
Mon 28 April 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Burnet Institute - received 28 April 2025 (pdf, 1.88 MB)
Thu 24 April 2025Answers to Questions on Notice NESA - received 24 April 2025 (pdf, 107.82 KB)
Thu 24 April 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Our watch - received 24 April 2025 (pdf, 325.13 KB)
Thu 17 April 2025Answers to Questions on Notice School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University - received 17 April 2025 (pdf, 2.34 MB)
Mon 07 April 2025Correspondence Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner, regarding inaccuracies in evidence to the inquiry into the impacts of harmful pornography on mental, emotional and physical health, dated 7 April 2025 (pdf, 130.00 KB)
Mon 24 March 2025Tabled Documentthe gist - a resource - Tabled by Associate Professor Megan Lim, Burnet Institute (pdf, 557.88 KB)
Mon 24 March 2025Tabled DocumentTop Blokes Foundation - Tabled by Ms Melissa Abu-Gazaleh (pdf, 2.01 MB)
Tue 05 November 2024Media ReleaseThe inquiry into the impacts of harmful pornography continues to be open to submissions (pdf, 162.16 KB)
Tue 03 September 2024Media ReleaseImpact of pornography - Media release (pdf, 138.67 KB)
Contact us

Madeleine Foley

Role:
Clerk Assistant - Committees
Phone:
9230 3367
Email:
socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Sarah Newlands

Role:
Principal Council Officer
Phone:
9230 3071
Email:
socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Glenn Hill

Role:
Council Officer
Phone:
9230 2711
Email:
socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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