Australia – Imminent – Free Speech To Be Banned Forever

Australia’s Proposed Misinformation Law Threatens Free Speech Forever

The Australian government’s proposal to regulate online misinformation could have far-reaching consequences for free speech (worldwide). Across Western democracies, a growing apparatus of censorship is being developed under the guise of maintaining public order and safety. Human-resources departments dismiss employees for expressing personal opinions online, fact-checkers scrutinise the internet, and authorities investigate so-called “hate speech.” The right to free expression is under pressure from all sides.

Even Australia, once known for its robust defence of individual freedoms, is not immune to this trend. The government’s recent push to control “misinformation” online is a stark example.

The Combating Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, initially proposed by the Labor government, is a highly controversial attempt to address the spread of false information. This bill was resubmitted to parliament this week and is expected to pass without dissent, making it law in the next few months. The revised version of this bill has even broader definitions making it truly – a full online censorship bill. This law will social-media platforms to censor content based on criteria set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), an unelected and largely opaque body.

The bill has drawn criticism, especially from free-speech advocates, for its vague definitions and potential for abuse. It defines misinformation as “false, misleading or deceptive” content likely to cause “serious harm.” However, the legislation fails to clearly explain what constitutes “serious harm” or who determines whether content meets this threshold, leaving too much room for interpretation.

Efforts to clarify the bill have only raised further concerns. Exemptions have been proposed for journalists, government officials, and those with religious beliefs, but these exemptions create more questions than answers. Who qualifies as a journalist? What if politicians themselves are spreading misinformation? And how are sincerely held religious beliefs to be judged? These ambiguities have stalled the bill’s progress until now, but its potential passage remains a significant threat to free expression.

If enacted, this legislation could prompt social-media platforms to over-censor their users in an attempt to avoid penalties. These platforms would likely rely on third-party fact-checkers to monitor content—many of whom have been criticised for bias and inaccuracy.

Recent examples illustrate the danger. Research from the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) reveals how fact-checkers disproportionately targeted one side of the debate during Australia’s recent Voice to Parliament referendum. Of the 187 fact-checks related to the referendum, 91% were directed against the No campaign. One prominent fact-checker, RMIT FactLab, did not scrutinise any claims from the Yes campaign at all, calling into question the impartiality of the fact-checking process.

This uneven application of censorship is already visible in Australia’s response to controversial events. When pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the Sydney Opera House last month and chanted deeply offensive slogans, authorities took little action beyond issuing a formal apology and restricting future marches. Meanwhile, government agencies seem quick to act when the speech in question contradicts popular progressive views.

Another recent example is the amount of censorship that was put on the voices of medical professionals and industry experts, on all mainstream social media platforms, when they tried to speak out against the government’s COVID-19 response, despite the amount of evidence that exists to support their arguments. This is still happening today even though so much more is known about that outbreak and the consequences of the actions that were taken. During that same period, we have seen the worst government sponsored misinformation in our history. The bill will allow this type of inaccurate information distribution without penalty!

Recently, in Tasmania, Tasmanian city councillor Louise Elliot is currently being investigated by the state’s Anti-Discrimination Commission for remarks she made at a women’s rights rally. Elliot’s statement—that transwomen are biologically male—was deemed by the commission as potentially inciting hatred. Yet, such views are held by many and are scientifically accurate, making the case against her appear to be more about policing opinion than preventing harm.

The worrying trend in Australia reflects a broader pattern of modern censorship, where individuals face consequences—whether job loss, online bans, or police attention—for straying from accepted narratives. At the same time, genuinely harmful misinformation and hate speech often go unpunished, particularly if it aligns with the prevailing ideological orthodoxy.

Act NOW

Free speech is a foundational principle of any democratic society. The proposed misinformation bill risks undermining this principle by giving the government excessive power to control public discourse. It is crucial that Australians, and those in other Western democracies, resist such encroachments on freedom before it’s too late. The time to speak out is now, while we still can.

More Information Is Available From These Sources:

Misinformation Bill Back in Parliament: Critics Concerned Definition of ‘Harm’ Widened (The Epoch Times)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/misinformation-bill-back-in-parliament-critics-concerned-definition-of-harm-widened-5722759

Australia’s Latest Censorship Bill Threatens Big Fines Over Online “Misinformation” (Reclaim the Net)
https://reclaimthenet.org/australias-latest-censorship-bill-threatens-big-fines-over-online-misinformation

Australia pushes ‘Misinformation’ fines for social media, gives mainstream media a pass (The Blaze)
https://www.theblaze.com/return/australia-social-media-fines-misinfo

They want to control what you say! (Nation First)
https://nationfirst.substack.com/p/they-want-to-control-what-you-say

The Australian Government Reboots the Misinformation Bill (Network Affects)
https://networkaffects.substack.com/p/the-australian-government-reboots

Strengthened protections for free speech in Australian Government’s revised misinformation bill, but fundamental flaws remain (Dystopian Down Under)
https://news.rebekahbarnett.com.au/p/strengthened-protections-for-free

Darkest Day for Free Speech in Australia (Caldron Pool)
https://caldronpool.com/darkest-day-for-free-speech-in-australia/

Labor Stifles Freedom of Speech with New Misinformation Bill (The Daily Declaration)
https://dailydeclaration.org.au/2024/09/13/labor-stifles-freedom-of-speech/

Revised Misinformation Laws Amp Up Assault On Free Speech (Institute of Public Affairs)
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/revised-misinformation-laws-amp-up-assault-on-free-speech

Free speech fears as Labor introduces ‘Orwellian’ misinformation bill: ‘Dark day for our nation’ (The Noticer)
https://www.noticer.news/labor-misinformation-disinformation-bill

Musk calls Australian government ‘fascists’ over disinformation law (Rappler)
https://www.rappler.com/technology/social-media/elon-musk-calls-australian-government-fascists-disinformation-law/

Government to introduce legislation to combat seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation (Minister for Communications)
https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/media-release/government-introduce-legislation-combat-seriously-harmful-misinformation-and-disinformation