The so-called Misinformation Bill is a direct assault on Australians' fundamental right to free speech.
Family First strongly opposes the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024, which expands the powers of unelected bureaucrats to censor speech under the guise of combating what they see as “misinformation” and “disinformation”.
This Bill threatens to undermine the core principles of democracy by empowering politically biased fact-checkers to dictate what is true and false, silencing dissenting voices and stifling free debate.
The Bill broadens the definition of ‘misinformation’ to include content that may be deemed ‘false, misleading or deceptive’—a subjective standard that opens the door to political abuse.
This means that even factually accurate information could be censored if it is deemed ‘misleading’ or ‘lacking context’ by ACMA or government-approved fact-checkers.
Under such rules, truth is no longer a defence. This not only curtails free speech but also diminishes the capacity of Australians to engage in meaningful discourse on vital public matters, from health policy to government economic decisions.
One of the most alarming aspects of this legislation is the creation of a powerful, unelected bureaucracy with the authority to investigate, sanction, and enforce censorship guidelines.
Mainstream Australians who hold opinions that diverge from government narratives could find themselves targeted, and their views censored by tech companies eager to avoid punitive fines.
This chilling effect will reduce the diversity of opinions online and leave Australians with a narrow, government-approved version of reality.
Family First believes that the broad definition of ‘serious harm,’ as outlined in this Bill, is designed to capture not only harmful or violent speech but any legitimate difference of opinion.
The government, in its pursuit of control over digital platforms, has chosen to ignore the concerns of ordinary Australians and has prioritised power over the principles of free speech that our democracy was built on.
We must resist this erosion of our rights. Family First stands firm in our commitment to protecting freedom of speech and opposing any laws that attempt to censor or control what Australians can say, read, or share online.
The proposed legislation is not only an affront to our democratic values but also a dangerous precedent for further government overreach.
As of 12 September 2024, the Bill has been introduced to the House of Representatives and is under consideration.
It has not yet passed through Parliament. If enacted, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will be granted significant powers to enforce these new censorship provisions.
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