The Coalition to oppose Labor’s attack on free speech
30 Sep | '2024
Hon. David Coleman MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Federal Member for Banks
Angie Bell MP
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education
Shadow Minister for Youth
Federal Member for Moncrieff
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The Coalition to oppose Labor’s attack on free speech
30 September 2024
The Coalition will strongly oppose Labor’s new Misinformation Bill, which Federal Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, described as an attack on free speech.
When the Government released its first Misinformation Bill last year, more than 20,000 people put in submissions and comments opposing it, and so it was withdrawn in disgrace.
Angie Bell MP said that with this latest attempt, Labor has again demonstrated a failure to respect the fundamental right of Australians to free speech.
“This is a Bill which has no place in Australia, and I am already receiving calls, letters and emails from concerned constituents in my community about the Albanese Government’s planned laws,” Ms Bell said.
“Gold Coasters just don’t trust this Prime Minister or his Government to speak the truth on their censorship laws.
“We saw it during the Voice debate, when Labor labelled any view they didn’t like or agree with as ‘misinformation’,” Ms Bell said.
Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said the Bill gives digital platforms an enormous financial incentive to censor statements made by everyday Australians.
“If the Government decides that they have not censored enough ‘misinformation’, they can face large fines,” Mr Coleman said.
“Digital platforms don’t care about the free speech of Australians – but they do care about their profits. So, they will censor large amounts of material to avoid the risk of fines. The provisions of the Bill are extremely broad and would capture many things said by Australians every day.
“Labor’s planned laws would also give the Communications Minister the powers to personally order Misinformation Investigations and Misinformation Hearings. This is wide open to abuse and an extraordinary power for a Minister to hold in a democracy.”
The Coalition will strongly oppose this dangerous legislation and will always stand up to protect the free speech of Australians.
-ENDS-