Fight Labor’s War on Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is an essential human right and a fundamental principle of Australian democracy. Labor’s Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023 is a direct attack on freedom of speech.

SCROLL DOWN TO SIGN THIS IMPORTANT PETITION

This legislation – which targets everyday Australians, independent media, and non-government political parties while carving out protections for government, mainstream media and approved organisations – would give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) draconian powers to silence critics of the government by imposing fines up to $6.8 million on social media platforms if, in ACMA’s opinion, they “have not done enough” to prevent the dissemination of what ACMA considers to be misinformation or disinformation.

The big problem with the bill is its highly subjective definition of what constitutes ‘misinformation’ – basically, ‘misinformation’ will mean whatever the government wants it to mean. This could easily include legitimate criticisms of the government, questions about the science underpinning climate change ideology, questions about high immigration, questions about gender dysphoria, and the ‘no’ campaign against the voice to Parliament.

Don’t believe for a second the senior Coalition figures opposing Labor’s bill because when they were in government, the Coalition proposed very similar legislation just before the election. The major parties’ hidden agenda is the protection of their two-party system: they’ve watched votes leak to minor parties and independents over the years and they’re desperate to close down their communication efforts. If this bill is passed, you could even be saying goodbye to the Please Explain cartoon series.

We must take a stand for freedom of speech. We must fight for it. As Thomas Jefferson said, the tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Making sure that hard-won individual freedoms endure in our society requires constant vigilance. You can help defend freedom of speech in Australia by putting your name to One Nation’s petition against Labor’s anti-free speech bill. Let’s send the strongest possible message to Anthony Albanese: threaten our freedom of speech at your own political peril. Let’s help Pauline Hanson protect this most important of individual human rights.

One Nation is holding a crucial conference on August 26 in Brisbane CBD where we will bring speakers together and take action against this bill. Out link below.

 


Petition: Protect Freedom of Speech in Australia

We, the undersigned, believe that freedom of speech is an essential human right and a fundamental principle of Australian democracy. We express our deep concern regarding the proposed Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023, introduced by the Labor Party, which we believe represents a direct attack on freedom of speech.

We assert the following:

Subjective Definition of Misinformation: The bill's highly subjective definition of "misinformation" grants the government arbitrary power to determine what constitutes misinformation. This opens the door to the suppression of legitimate criticisms of the government, questioning of scientific ideologies such as climate change, immigration policies, gender dysphoria, and opposition to a voice in Parliament.

Draconian Powers of ACMA: The bill empowers the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with draconian powers to silence critics of the government. It allows for fines of up to $6.8 million to be imposed on social media platforms if, in ACMA's opinion, they have not done enough to prevent the dissemination of what ACMA considers to be misinformation or disinformation. This creates a chilling effect on free expression and inhibits open dialogue.

Protection of Government and Mainstream Media: The legislation carves out protections for government, mainstream media, and approved organizations, thereby creating an imbalance in the treatment of different voices and viewpoints. This not only undermines the principle of equality of speech but also reinforces a two-party system at the expense of independent media and non-government political parties.

In light of these concerns, we, the undersigned, call on the Parliament to:

Reject the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023, recognizing that it poses a threat to freedom of speech in Australia.

Safeguard the principles of freedom of speech and expression as cornerstones of Australian democracy, ensuring that all individuals, media outlets, and political parties are equally protected in exercising their right to free speech.

Conduct a thorough review of the bill to address its subjective definition of misinformation and the imbalance in protections provided to different entities, aiming to foster a fair and inclusive environment for open public discourse.

We call on all members of Parliament to heed this petition, listen to the concerns voiced by the signatories, and act in the best interests of upholding freedom of speech and protecting the individual rights of all Australians.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

 

24 signature
Goal: 10000 signature

Will you sign?

Showing 24 reactions

  • Timothy Lomax
    signed 2024-10-08 07:56:21 +0800
  • Shelley Ratcliff
    signed 2024-10-07 23:27:50 +0800
  • Priscilla James
    signed 2024-09-29 17:51:30 +0800
    1)Misinformation bill will be death of Philosophy, keystone of civilisation.

    2) Seven days of public submissions…blocked behind website and no non tech way to submit for the poor…is undemocratic (just the way they want it).

    3) This bill is a deathnell for democracy and human rights. It violates the freedoms and rights Australians have fought and died for, and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which Australia is meant to uphold.

    4) This bill will create massive uprisings and civil unrest. I do NOT want to see our first ever proper civil war, and anyone trying to bring this bill into law should be complicit and held accountable under a court of law!

    5) Our government is elected to PROTECT US….not lead us into the killing chambers of those who say “you will own nothing and be happy”! STOP THE SUBJUGATION TO GLOBAL UNELECTED DESPICABLE DICTATORS!!!

    6) After the last 4 years, I would NOT TRUST this government to run a bake sale, let alone give them powers to decide what is “SAFE AND EFFECTIVEETC!!!

    7) AFTER THE LAST 4 YEARS PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH! GET YOUR EFFING BOOT OFF OUR NECKS.
  • Kellie Smith
    signed 2024-09-24 12:07:35 +0800
    This has the potential to be the most dangerous legislation of modern times
  • Dan Reed
    signed 2024-09-20 05:03:50 +0800
    Fascism rises, Labor and liberal have killed this country.
  • Daniel Wright
    signed 2024-09-18 17:22:26 +0800
  • Peter Owen
    signed 2024-09-18 11:45:08 +0800
  • Ajay Sharma
    signed 2024-09-17 18:29:59 +0800
    We moved to Australia considering its free country but same dictatorship is happening here. Everyone has right to express their view in a peaceful manner with in law
  • Harley Drabsch
    signed 2024-09-17 17:49:16 +0800
  • Lesley Peirce
    signed 2024-09-14 13:49:26 +0800
  • Colin Vance
    signed 2024-09-10 16:59:49 +0800
  • Dianne Bourke
    signed 2024-08-13 12:31:20 +0800
  • Michelle Lembo
    signed 2024-08-11 09:04:43 +0800
  • Clint Camilleri
    signed 2024-08-09 21:19:36 +0800
  • Stuart Murray
    signed 2024-08-09 17:04:06 +0800
  • Bradley Gibby
    signed via 2024-08-09 14:45:18 +0800
    How DARE you consider yourself superior to my capacity to express myself HOWEVER I see fit. As long as I don’t physically hurt or incite others, my speech, opinion and the manner in which I choose to express it is BEYOND your purview to regulate or control.
  • Darren Trengove
    signed 2024-08-04 13:07:27 +0800
  • Tanya Morgan
    signed 2024-06-14 06:58:01 +0800
  • david watts
    signed 2024-06-09 15:33:00 +0800
  • Wendy Lawrie
    signed 2024-06-07 21:30:51 +0800
  • Dean Morgan
    signed 2024-06-07 18:19:38 +0800
  • Nigel March
    signed 2024-06-07 16:05:23 +0800
  • Peter Chatman
    signed 2024-06-07 15:52:27 +0800
  • Colin Tincknell
    signed 2024-06-07 12:12:16 +0800