UK and Australia plan Commonwealth forum on online abuse of parliamentarians
A joint statement commits the two governments to work with Commonwealth parliamentary groups, with a first forum planned in 2027.
What the record says
The UK and Australia committed to a Commonwealth effort to protect parliamentarians from online abuse in a joint statement published November 3. The governments said they would work with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and other countries to bring together technology, expertise and practical approaches. They plan a first forum in 2027. The statement links online abuse to barriers to democratic participation, particularly for women. It calls for governments, technology companies and others to help create safer online spaces while supporting respectful public debate. The initiative builds on the countries’ existing cooperation on online safety and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Source details and supporting locations.
Practical next step
Read the joint statement for the governments’ commitments and watch for details of the planned forum.
Limits and what is not established
This is a statement of intended cooperation. It does not establish that the forum has occurred, that a new law has passed or that the proposed measures have been evaluated.
Sources checked November 4, 2026. Later notices may change instructions or arrangements.
Original sources
UK Prime Minister’s Office, joint UK-Australia statement: original information