“It Can Cause Death Immediately”: Tanya Plibersek Wants Kids Educated On Erotic Choking

Australian Minister For Social Services Tanya Plibersek has urged parents to discuss safe sexual practices and the dangers of erotic choking with their children. It comes after a 16-year-old Sydney girl was found unresponsive at her home in the Northern Beaches suburb of  Elanora Heights on Sunday 23 August.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the girl was allegedly engaging in a consensual act with a male known to her when she became unresponsive, possibly due to a seizure. Paramedics arrived on the scene at 5:45pm before transporting her to Royal North Shore Hospital in critical condition. She died on Tuesday 25 August.

Tanya Plibersek Urges Parents To Discuss Safe Sex With Their Children

Appearing on ABC Radio National on Thursday 27 August, Tanya Plibersek was asked whether she was concerned with the “significant percentage of young people” engaging in erotic choking practices.

“Almost 60% of young people report that they’ve experienced choking in a recent sexual encounter,” Plibersek replied. “So, I can’t say anything obviously about this tragic situation in New South Wales, but in general terms, figures like that just concern me so deeply.”

The senior minister went on to state that there is “no safe way of choking someone”, and that the dangers of erotic choking are not only immediate, but can have long-term effects.

“It can cause death immediately, it can cause death weeks down the track through blood clots, it can cause dementia years and years after the practise has been used. It is not safe. So, I’m pleading with parents and schools today to use every opportunity to have really direct conversations with young people. 

“Kids are getting their sex education from pornography before they’ve had their first kiss. Now, our under 16 social media ban will help a bit with this. Age verification for pornography, which we’ve also introduced, will help a bit with this. But kids are spectacularly good at getting around these rules. 

“The antidote we need are real world conversations that are explicit and direct with adults that they trust in their lives.”