{"id":343462,"date":"2024-09-17T12:24:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T10:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=343462"},"modified":"2024-09-17T12:24:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T10:24:10","slug":"australia-introduces-legislation-to-outlaw-disagreeing-with-the-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=343462","title":{"rendered":"Australia Introduces Legislation to Outlaw Disagreeing With the Government"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by<\/strong> Eric Worrall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Australia approaches its next cycle of state and federal elections, the radical Aussie Federal Government is pushing laws which could silence media criticism of their key policy positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018Attack on our freedoms\u2019: Government\u2019s revised online misinformation bill slammed as \u2018chilling assault\u2019 on free speech<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labor\u2019s new online misinformation bill has been slammed as a \u201cchilling assault\u201d on freedom of speech, with critics claiming the government\u2019s definition of \u201cserious harm\u201d could capture \u201cany difference of opinion\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Patrick Hannaford<\/a> Digital Reporter<\/strong>
4 min read
September 12, 2024 \u2013 5:00PM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduced the legislation to Parliament on Thursday, claiming misinformation and disinformation pose a \u201cserious threat\u201d to Australian\u2019s  \u201csafety and wellbeing\u201d as well as \u201cour democracy, society and economy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Albanese government was forced to abandon a previous draft version of the laws after they were widely condemned by everyone from media organisations and tech companies to civil liberties groups and even the Australian Human Rights Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister Rowland said the government had listened to the feedback and the new legislation had been revised to \u201ccarefully balance the public interest in combatting seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation with the freedom of expression that is so fundamental to our democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But critics are already lining up to attack the bill, with the Institute of Public Affairs describing the legislation as \u201cthe single biggest attack on freedom of speech in Australia\u2019s peacetime history\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMisinformation legislation introduced into federal parliament today represents a chilling assault on every Australian\u2019s right to free speech. The new Bill broadens provisions to censor speech, which even the government\u2019s fatally flawed first draft did not include,\u201d said John Storey, the Director of Law and Policy at the IPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Read more:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.skynews.com.au\/australia-news\/politics\/attack-on-our-freedoms-governments-revised-online-misinformation-bill-slammed-as-chilling-assault-on-free-speech\/news-story\/03f202bf41f4255fd0f7c4b4c05682fe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Institute of Public Affairs has this to say about the new laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Revised Misinformation Laws Amp Up Assault On Free Speech<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by: John Storey<\/a>
12 September 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMisinformation legislation introduced into federal parliament today represents a chilling assault on every Australian\u2019s right to free speech. The new Bill broadens provisions to censor speech, which even the government\u2019s fatally flawed first draft did not include,\u201d said John Storey, Director of Law and Policy at the Institute of Public Affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revised Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 <\/em>grants the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enormous power to fine social media companies if they are found to have failed to properly censor \u2018misinformation\u2019 and \u2018disinformation\u2019. The new Bill contains three fundamental flaws:<\/p>\n\n\n\n