The Albanese Government has formally abandoned proposed laws that would have forced social media companies to police misinformation and outright lies on their platforms. Source: ABC News
The misinformation bill was flatly rejected by the Coalition, Greens and several senators on the crossbench, leaving it no pathway to be passed.
Meanwhile, as the Government attempts to clear the decks in its last sitting week of the year and possibly this term, government sources say restrictions on gambling advertising will not progress this week.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said that decision was a “cowardly and craven capitulation”.
“[It] just shows this Government can’t get the big calls right,” Mr Dutton said.
“This is a government that is lurching from one disaster to the next and limping to the next election.”
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland yesterday confirmed the misinformation bill was dead.
“Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate,” Ms Rowland said.
“The Coalition committed to legislating safeguards when in government, but chose to place partisanship above any attempt to navigate the public interest.”
The dumped laws would have given the Australian Communications Media Authority powers to set rules to remove certain speech on platforms, such as content from foreign actors seeking to undermine Australian democracy, or that urged people against taking preventative health measures such as vaccines.
Ms Rowland argued the bill would have combated “seriously harmful content” on digital platforms, while maintaining freedom of speech protections.
Mr Dutton said the Government had failed an attempt to censor free speech online.
“The withdrawal of this dangerous legislation is a win for free speech and for democracy,” Mr Dutton said.
“No minister and no bureaucrat has a monopoly on truth. And yet, Labor’s legislation sought to make government and unelected bureaucrats the arbiters of truth.”
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young agreed the Government’s attempt was badly made.
The Albanese government has one week remaining to pass legislation this year, which could be the last sitting week of this government depending on when an election is called next year.
FULL STORY
Laws to regulate misinformation online abandoned (By Jake Evans, ABC News)
