Call for investigation into misinformation bill submissions

The opposition has called for an investigation into the Albanese government’s delay in publishing submissions on proposed laws to combat online misinformation.

Opposition communication spokesman David Coleman. Picture: Picture Gary Ramage

Opposition communication spokesman David Coleman has written to the Information Commissioner to call for an investigation into the Albanese govern­ment’s delay in publishing sub­missions responding to Labor’s proposed laws to combat online misinformation.

The proposed laws will grant the Australian Communications and Media Authority the power to fine social media giants millions of dollars for misinformation and content it deems “harmful”, and has raised concerns that it will undermine freedom of speech.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland released the draft bill for public consultation in June. It attracted 23,000 responses including comments and submissions, with the call for feedback closing on August 20.

The submissions were yet to be made public late on Thursday, despite the government saying they would be released in “early September”.

Mr Coleman accused the government of sitting on the submissions because of the “volume of criticism” the bill has provoked.

“I am concerned about the government’s handling of information related to public submissions on the misinformation bill,” the letter reads.

“In my view, the conduct of the government in relation to this matter clearly triggers the provisions of s. 7(a)(i) and should be a matter your office investigates.”

Originally, the government said the submissions would be released publicly in tranches after the closing date of August 20.

“It then changed this statement to say that submissions would be released in tranches from ‘early September’.”

Under the draft bill, ACMA will be empowered to seek information about the measures digital platforms were taking to address online misinformation and disinformation, and develop a stronger form of enforcement if self-regulation failed.

Constitutional expert Anne Twomey, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Law Council of Australia have raised concerns about the bill’s impact on freedom of speech, its broad definitions of misinformation, disinformation and harm, and ­exemptions granted to governments, educational institutions and media outlets.

The Coalition, independent senator Jacquie Lambie, teal MP Zali Steggall and One Nation senator Pauline Hanson have also voiced concerns.

“It may be in the interest of the government to delay publication, given the volume of criticism that the submissions are likely to contain,” Mr Coleman’s letter reads.

“But this delay is plainly not in the interests of open and fair debate on this critical issue.”

A Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts spokeswoman said the bill was designed to “hold digital platforms to account by increasing transparency and improving their efforts in combating seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation in Australia”.

“Public submissions will be released on the department’s website in tranches,” she said.