Australians face serious risks to losing their freedom of speech under plans by the Albanese Government to impose new Misinformation laws through federal parliament.
The Coalition is fighting the Labor Party’s censorship plans which are set to go to a final vote in the coming weeks.
Shadow Minister for Communications David Coleman said free speech is fundamental to our democratic society in Australia and the Coalition will always defend this freedom.
“Under the Government’s plan, something can be ‘misinformation’ even if it is the honestly held opinion of an everyday Australian,” Mr Coleman said.
“The statement doesn’t have to be malicious or designed to deceive. Academics, scientists, artists and comedians are exempted from the Bill. But people at home just expressing their beliefs are not.
“It’s also very concerning that the Communications Minister can personally order Misinformation Investigations and Misinformation Hearings, on terms of her choosing.
“Digital platforms would face huge fines, if the Government decides that they have not removed enough of what they consider to be ‘misinformation. The platforms will want to avoid those big fines, so they will censor a large amount of free speech of everyday Australians who want to have their say online.
Mr Coleman said the Albanese Government’s Misinformation Bill represents a clear and present danger to the open communication of religious beliefs in Australia.
“A core problem of the planned legislation is that it empowers digital platforms and government bureaucrats to determine whether or not a religious belief is ‘reasonable’,” Mr Coleman said.
“This flies in the face of the separation of church and state and is completely unacceptable.”
Mr Coleman said there would be a vote on the legislation in the Senate in late November. The Coalition is calling on all Senators to vote against this terrible piece of legislation.’
“Many Australians will recall all the times the Prime Minister and his MPs referred to any comments on they didn’t like in the Voice referendum as ‘misinformation’. If these laws had been in place last year, there is no doubt Labor would have used them in an attempt to stifle debate,” Mr Coleman said.
“It is of the highest importance that this bill is defeated in the federal parliament. We cannot allow the Albanese Government to impose a new censorship regime on all Australians.”
