Draft bill rewrite to include religious protections
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has flagged major changes to the government’s proposed misinformation laws.
Freedom Of Speech
Danger of a sharp left turn that threatens freedom of speech
Given that Yes supporters still blame the voice defeat on a ‘disinformation campaign’, what do we think will happen under laws that Labor and the Greens vow will ‘keep Australians safe’?
Florida schools ban ‘obscene’ Shakespeare
Education officials in Florida believe that some parts of the Bard’s classics are so obscene that pupils should not read them.
Burney refuses to endorse Makarrata commission
The Indigenous Affairs Minister was asked what the ‘truth-telling’ body would do after it was allocated $5.8m in last year’s budget.
Rushdie ‘writing again’ after stabbing
Salman Rushdie says he has resumed working nine months after being repeatedly stabbed by an alleged Islamic extremist.
Willy Wonka’s carbon neutral, vegan chocolate factory
The real ‘problem’ with Roald Dahl is he’s a dead white male whose books remain hugely popular. It’s a progressive conundrum in the literary world.
‘We must develop sub-building capabilities’
Amid fears the US may not be able to deliver nuclear subs as promised under AUKUS pact, defence minister says it’s vital that Australia develop industrial capability in Adelaide.
Victorian taxpayers to fill netball’s coffers
Minutes before his Treasurer confirmed a $1.8bn budget blowout, Daniel Andrews revealed a deal to fund the hole left by Gina Rinehart’s split with Netball Australia.
Activist historians — a monumental waste of space
The hysterical campaign to purge ‘offensive’ statues is an attempt to change our interpretation of history to suit a militant narrative.
We’re really not as keen on free speech as we pretend
The people who most vigorously share opinions online recoil when their enemies do the same.
Formula One puts an end to taking knee
The Black Lives Matter protest was adopted after Lewis Hamilton pushed for F1 to take action, but not all drivers supported it.
Cancel culture hits peak with war on ‘racist’ mountains
More than a thousand places and monuments may be renamed as America tries to wipe out offensive place names.
Python star’s ‘cancelled’ show will go on
The Old Vic pulled the show after its young staff objected to Terry Gilliam’s perceived views on trans rights and #MeToo.
Our compulsion to cancel is out of control
From woke warriors to conservative colonels, we’re all becoming terribly bad at tolerating views we find objectionable. The urge is the same: to ridicule them, destroy them, make them go away.
Outrage forces Stones to drop slavery song
The Rolling Stones have cut a popular track, released in 1971, from their US tour amid criticism over its lyrics.
Mob rules in ‘tolerant’ discourse
The public intimidation of Jessica Rowe was a brutal lesson in ‘progressive’ power; Artful deflector Ardern has come back to earth with a thud.
Feminist icon given a ‘woke revision’
A civil liberties group has sparked outrage by replacing the word ‘women’ from a landmark quote by late supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
When smart debate on big issues is a bridge too far
Something has been lost when someone like Leigh Sales is turned on for doing her job. But the ABC must accept the role it has played.
Institutional cowardice is killing free speech
Self-censorship has become a creeping menace as companies and arts bodies capitulate to every strident demand.
TV host cancelled after ‘diversity’ furore
A leading sports anchor and her show were axed after a private complaint about an African-American colleague was leaked.
Kiwis review ‘racist’ national team nickname
New Zealand Football is looking at dropping the ‘All Whites’ nickname as part of a diversity drive.
Big tech gives free speech the boot
The latest salvo in the war on what we are allowed to read, see, hear and discuss is Youtube’s decision to ban Sky News Australia.
JK Rowling exposes troll’s pipe bomb threat
The author revealed the death threat to show the hate mail she has received since discussing the importance of biological sex.
The Culture Wars must go on. This is why.
The woke are angry, humourless, and, worst of all, vindictive. So praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. Surrender isn’t an option.
Warning: life at university is proving no picnic
A list of ‘oppressive words and phrases’ compiled by a leading US university that questioned the use of ‘picnic’ and ‘rule of thumb’ has come under unexpected attack.
Dark Emu’s feel-good factor trumps academic rigour
The rush to acclaim Bruce Pascoe’s book as a historical text, overlooking its fundamental flaws and inaccuracies, has also involved vilifying those who question its claims.
Facebook playing with fire
When Facebook’s vice-president insists social media firms can’t police themselves he invites autocrats to do just that.
Free speech law for all push
Uni chief and constitutional law expert George Williams warns that the ‘evergrowing list of anti-speech laws’ must be stopped.
Free speech code for unis should apply nationwide
We need a statute that applies across our society to provide every person with a right of free expression.
I’m no racist, says golliwog seller
A Tasmanian store owner thrust into the latest golliwog ‘outrage’ has revealed he is Aboriginal and feels insulted by suggestions of racism made on social media.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/topics/freedom-of-speech