Labor trying to ‘ram through’ misinformation bill with quick one week consultation: Libs

Shadow communications minister David Coleman has questioned how people are meant to respond to a complicated piece of legislation in just a week.

The Albanese government has been accused of trying to “ram through” the latest version of its misinformation bill after it was revealed that stakeholder groups would have barely a week to comment on the legislation that many worry will harm free speech in Australia.

Last week stakeholders began receiving emails telling them that they would have until next Monday, September 30, to provide feedback to a parliamentary committee examining the bill that is due to hand down its report in November.

Critics say that the misinformation bill will encourage social media companies to censor controversial information and opinions lest they risk fines amounting to as much as five per cent of global revenue while empowering the communications minister to order investigations into anything she deems “misinformation.”

Michelle Pearse, CEO of the Australian Christian Lobby, said that “only providing a one-week consultation period on a bill fundamentally undermines democracy.”

Shadown communications minister, David Coleman has accused Labor of trying to ram the misinformation bill through. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“The Government is already displaying their blatant agenda of censoring the opinions of Australians … opinions like ‘kids shouldn’t take puberty blocking medication’, and ‘babies born alive after abortions deserve care’ will likely be labelled as ‘misinformation.”

“Exposing harm will be increasingly difficult in an environment of online censorship where the Australian Communications and Media Authority will become the Ministry of Truth,” she said.

Shadow communications minister David Coleman said, “How are people supposed to respond to this complicated law in just a week?,”

“Labor wants to ram this legislation through and is trying to stop the massive backlash we saw last time.”

“This is a complete abuse of process and tells you everything you need to know about this Bill and this Government,” he said.

However the government said that it has worked to take feedback on board and tighten the draft legislation to protect freedom by among other things narrowing the scope of what is considered a “serious harm” and focusing on tech platforms’ responsibilities.

“The Albanese Government has consulted widely on the Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, including with the release of an exposure draft for public comment, the publication of submissions and further targeted consultation with experts,” said communications minister Michelle Rowland.

Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowlandsaid there will be a consultation period. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE 13, 2024: David Coleman Federal Member For Banks Shadow Minister for Communications pictured speaking at a press conference at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“It is now time for Parliament to focus on getting the job done to keep Australians safe online because the majority of Australians are concerned about mis and disinformation and want it to be addressed.”

“All David Coleman has to offer is a petition to ‘bin the bill’ and now he seeks to delay these important safeguards.”

But John Storey, director of law and policy at the Institute of Public Affairs, said that even with the changes the laws “represent a chilling assault on every Australian’s right to free speech.”

“Under these laws even the truth will be no defence. If mainstream Australians post information which was factually true, but a government agency labels it ‘misleading’ or ‘deceptive’ because it ‘lacked context’, then it can and will be censored.”

Originally published as Labor trying to ‘ram through’ misinformation bill with quick one week consultation: Libs