Bravo Russell! RE: Australia's Orwellian Disinformation Bill. (Read Description)

13 Sept 2024 Russell Broadbent MP for Monash (https://russellbroadbent.com.au/) on Albanese’s Misinformation & Disinformation (MAD) Bill. "These are truly unprecedented times. In my 25 years in the parliament, I've never seen legislation like it. [..] Today I urge Australians to stand up and speak out on this bill while they still can."

Video source: https://youtu.be/GQThY6LAZMw

Latest version of the Anti-Human bill tabled by Michelle Rowland (https://x.com/MRowlandMP)
“Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill”.
Bill Link: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7239

The bill defines ‘serious harm’ as:

(a) harm to the operation or integrity of a Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government electoral or referendum process; or
(b) harm to PUBLIC HEALTH in Australia, including to the efficacy of preventative health measures in Australia; or
(c) vilification of a group in Australian society distinguished by race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, disability, nationality or national or ethnic origin, or vilification of an individual because of a belief that the individual is a member of such a group; or
(f) imminent harm to the Australian economy, including harm to public confidence in the BANKING system or financial markets!

What can we do?

Tweak this email and send to your local or all Senators:

Subject: Oppose the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024

Dear Australian Senators,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024. This bill represents an alarming overreach by the Australian Government, essentially establishing a 'Ministry of Truth' to determine what constitutes misinformation or disinformation.

Who is the government to dictate what is factually true or false? The government has previously misled us about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, ignored the public’s voice in the recent referendum, and continues to claim that it is acting in our best interests. How can the same government, which has spread misinformation itself, now be trusted to define what is truthful?

This bill makes no sense. I cannot support any senator who endorses such an overstep into our freedoms, effectively turning the government into the 'Internet Police.' It is equally disturbing that the media, labeled as 'Professional Media,' are exempt from this bill—especially when they have, in the past, knowingly disseminated false information on behalf of the government.

No entity should have the authority to decide what is misinformation or disinformation. It is up to individuals to determine what they believe to be true. The government’s role is not to police thought or speech, and this bill is a direct attack on free speech.

Moreover, the claim that the government is 'protecting us' is yet another falsehood. Nobody asked for this bill, and nobody voted for it. By proposing such legislation, the government itself is spreading misinformation.

I urge you, as Australian Senators, to stand up for freedom of speech and expression by voting against this bill. It does nothing to restore public confidence in the government. If anything, it further erodes the already fragile trust between the government and the people.

If the government is serious about restoring trust, it should stop infringing on our liberties, allow us to live our lives without unnecessary interference, and enshrine freedom of speech into law.

Please, do the right thing.

Regards,
[Your Name]

--

Here is a list of every single Australia Senator currently Serving.
senator.hughes@aph.gov.au;
senator.payne@aph.gov.au;
senator.davey@aph.gov.au;
senator.bragg@aph.gov.au;
senator.kovacic@aph.gov.au;
senator.cadell@aph.gov.au;
senator.shoebridge@aph.gov.au;
senator.faruqi@aph.gov.au;
senator.oneill@aph.gov.au;
jennifer.mcallister@aph.gov.au;
senator.ayres@aph.gov.au;
senator.sheldon@aph.gov.au;
senator.paterson@aph.gov.au;
senator.henderson@aph.gov.au;
senator.mckenzie@aph.gov.au;
senator.babet@aph.gov.au;
senator.van@aph.gov.au;
senator.hume@aph.gov.au;
senator.rice@aph.gov.au;
senator.thorpe@aph.gov.au;
senator.stewart@aph.gov.au;
senator.walsh@aph.gov.au;
senator.white@aph.gov.au;
senator.ciccone@aph.gov.au;
senator.mcgrath@aph.gov.au;
senator.scarr@aph.gov.au;
senator.roberts@aph.gov.au;
senator.hanson@aph.gov.au;
senator.rennick@aph.gov.au;
senator.canavan@aph.gov.au;
senator.mcdonald@aph.gov.au;
senator.waters@aph.gov.au;
senator.allman-payne@aph.gov.au;
senator.chisholm@aph.gov.au;
senator.watt@aph.gov.au;
senator.green@aph.gov.au;
senator.reynolds@aph.gov.au;
senator.cash@aph.gov.au;
senator.smith@aph.gov.au;
senator.matt.o'sullivan@aph.gov.au;
senator.brockman@aph.gov.au;
senator.cox@aph.gov.au;
senator.steele-john@aph.gov.au;
senator.payman@aph.gov.au;
senator.sterle@aph.gov.au;
senator.pratt@aph.gov.au;
senator.dodson@aph.gov.au;
senator.lines@aph.gov.au;
senator.ruston@aph.gov.au;
senator.birmingham@aph.gov.au;
senator.antic@aph.gov.au;
senator.mclachlan@aph.gov.au;
senator.fawcett@aph.gov.au;
senator.liddle@aph.gov.au;
senator.barbara.pocock@aph.gov.au;
senator.hanson-young@aph.gov.au;
senator.farrell@aph.gov.au;
senator.grogan@aph.gov.au;
senator.marielle.smith@aph.gov.au;
senator.wong@aph.gov.au;
senator.nampijinpaprice@aph.gov.au;
senator.mccarthy@aph.gov.au;
senator.lambie@aph.gov.au;
senator.tyrrell@aph.gov.au;
senator.duniam@aph.gov.au;
senator.colbeck@aph.gov.au;
senator.chandler@aph.gov.au;
senator.askew@aph.gov.au;
senator.mckim@aph.gov.au;
senator.whish-wilson@aph.gov.au;
senator.urquhart@aph.gov.au;
senator.carol.brown@aph.gov.au;
senator.bilyk@aph.gov.au;
senator.polley@aph.gov.au;
senator.david.pocock@aph.gov.au;
senator.katy.gallagher@aph.gov.au;

See also:
‘Shocking piece of legislation’: Alex Antic savages Labor’s misinformation bill https://youtu.be/BnYnkFvXrWY