As far as I can tell this law has come to pass. I will check in HANSARD to be sure
The Australian Government has recently introduced in Parliament a new law proposal to ban officially unapproved online content.
Digital companies are expected to adopt a code of conduct which will see them censor speech based on broad, vague and far-reaching directives.
The Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation)
Bill 2023 foreshadows the imposition of a legal obligation on digital platforms to police alleged
"misinformation" and "disinformation". If that does not work, the law proposal provides for the full empowerment of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to directly intervene for the purpose of preventing "harm".
Section 2 of the proposed legislation defines "harm" as follows:
(a) hatred against a group in Australian society on the basis of ethnicity, nationality, race, gender,
sexual orientation, age, religion or physical or mental disability;
disruption of public order or society in Australia;
harm to the integrity of Australian democratic processes or of Commonwealth, State, Territory
or local government institutions;
harm to the health of Australians;
harm to the Australian environment;
economic or financial harm to Australians, the Australian economy or a sector of the Australian
economy.
The concept of "harm" peddled by the bill is illusory, and its content would be subjectively determined by a powerful government agency. The definition of what is and what isn't harm is malleable and can expand and contract depending on ACMA's prevailing views. Ultimately,
any type of speech with which the government is uncomfortable could be deemed "harmful". For
example, describing "disrupting social order" as serious harm could be interpreted to stop the
organisation of legitimate political protests. This could certainly be used to suppress legitimate political speech that should be part of a functioning democracy.
Above all, ACMA would gain sweeping powers to require any person to appear at a time and place of its choosing to answer questions about misinformation or disinformation. These powers include infringement notices, remedial directions, injunctions and civil penalties, including fines of up
to A$550,000 (US$358,000) for individuals and A$2.75 million for corporations.
Criminal penalties, including imprisonment, may also apply in cases of alleged "extreme harm."
The provisions found in this law roposal put the communications and lives of free-thinkers, human
rights defenders, independent journalists, and ordinary citizens under constant risk. They go in
direct opposition to international human rights experts' advice that "general prohibitions on the
dissemination of information based on vague and ambiguous ideas, including 'false news' or 'non-
objective information', are incompatible with international standards for restrictions on freedom of expression... and should be abolished."
It is noteworthy that the Australian Government is exempted from the proposed legislation. Hence, the content issued by the government is never to be considered "misinformation" but criticisms of
the government by ordinary citizens can. It is certainly ironic that views incompatible with the government's preferred narrative could be deemed to "harm" the integrity of Australia's democracy since it would disallow speech and expressive conduct that is integral to the maintenance of democratic processes.
It is noteworthy that the Australian Government is exempted from the proposed legislation.
The proposed legislation constitutes a serious attack on the democratic right of Australians to
free speech. Digital platforms will be legally obliged to police commentators' discussion of controversial topics. Under this "misinformation" legislation, any honest and robust debate about
government policies will be effectively outlawed.
If the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill is enacted, then the free expression of ideas will be
basically outlawed by the Australian Government. In short, the enactment of this law proposal will
spell the end of authentic democracy in Australia. Australians are basically witnessing the
transformation of their system of representative government into nothing more than a less open, or
more disguised, form of elective dictatorship.
[tinyurl.com]
The "West" is becoming extreme in it's capitalist ways. Fascist some may say...............
I think a simple solution is to become a republic. Then we can piss off the Poms. Yanks and laws like this all at the same time. When the US and UK start staring at the abyss then so will we. Then is the time to do it. The new Australian republics sign onto BRICS and we may save ourselves.
We would have had a republic by now if the pollies has not insisted that only they elect the president.
Everywhere you have party politics you have fascism and now totalitarianism.
Parties rely on donations to gain and exercise power. Ergo parties look after the best "donors". It has be proven beyond doubt that ye who pays the piper calls the tune. It is the billionaire class who rule the world to their advantage. Politicians are just a showy distraction to confuse, control and ensure compliance of the population to the real rulers
@vocaloldfart As we have gradually removed socialist policy from our capitalist societies they have become more fascist ie govt controlled more and more by corporations. Why pure capitalism must be tempered by socialist policy ie policy in the future public's interest.
The "West" is becoming extreme in it's capitalist ways. Fascist some may say...............
I think a simple solution is to become a republic. Then we can piss off the Poms. Yanks and laws like this all at the same time. When the US and UK start staring at the abyss then so will we. Then is the time to do it. The new Australian republics sign onto BRICS and we may save ourselves.
It appears that it is law that only certain brands of mobile phones are allowed to operate in Australia. There are no more unlocked phones that are not supplied by either optus or telstra. or tied to either provider.
to buy an "unlocked phone, you need to get a minimum of 1 month on the providers locked sim before you can then switch to any other service provider.
Maybe they should just title it the "Siddown, Shaddup and B'have yerself yer Barstards!" law 2024
It will be interesting to see if Shane Dowling \ Kangaroo Court make comment..And will the reported returning Julian Assange report or is he now a broken man?
Is your phone working yet?
@FrayedBear I sent you three messages. appears that messaging is kaput again.
@vocaloldfart on the phone? Nothing arrived!
@FrayedBear on the top right hand where you see a bell a cog and an enveope. It was within that envelope that I tried to send three message. It said I was connected, but appears that is not so.
@vocaloldfart yeah been like that for ages. If your able to be on here however you must have internet connection.. Can't you use that to talk to me?
@FrayedBear I cannot use my internet connection. er my wifes' hotspot internet connection to make phone calls. I am looking at an email service, since my last one was too erratic and unreliable. If you know any secure emails NOT google , or 5 eyes , let me know.
@vocaloldfart carrierpigeon?
Don't write sedition?
Posted by FrayedBearIn the event of nuclear war between USA & China what are the most likely first strike targets?
Posted by 1patriotThis is a big concern
Posted by vocaloldfart Australia being turned into ‘51st US state’ – ex-PM Canberra is losing its strategic autonomy due to its security pact with the US and UK, Paul Keating has argued The US is surrounding...
Posted by 1patriot[rebelnews.
Posted by 1patriotThat would be a plus....
Posted by FrayedBearTime for Australia to follow suit?
Posted by 1patriotthey are creating a 15 Cities all along this coast in Australia
Posted by 1patriotthunder writes: I remember early in the pandemic when there was a protest outside the hospital (Toronto Canada).
Posted by vocaloldfart Is this the way of the future?
Posted by vocaloldfartIf you think times were tough under the LNP Mafiosa in the previous years, Give Dutton the disastrous destroyer the vote in the next election, and look foreward to worse to come.
Posted by vocaloldfartMichael Pascoe: And the award for the worst Liberal leader goes to… ?
Posted by vocaloldfartDingoes elevated to 'almost-human' status in pre-colonial Australia .
Posted by vocaloldfartVanadium batteries’ sustainable energy hailed as key to solar revolution Vanadium could be the answer to using solar and wind round the clock, silencing critics who say they’re useless when the...
Posted by FrayedBearThis amused me. How about you? "Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Shulz
Posted by FrayedBearNine chairman, and former Australian Treasurer, Peter Costello is now promoting war with China after making $millions lobbying for defence companies BY SHANE DOWLING ON MARCH 12, 2023
Posted by FrayedBearIt has taken since 1986 for the Australian Human Rights Commission to release papers & a suggested draft for incorporation into Australian law to protect all citizens.