Greens oppose misinformation bill that cannot pass the Senate
Labor and the majority of Teals supported this legislation through the House of Representatives.
The Australian Greens will oppose the Albanese Labor government’s misinformation and disinformation bill in the final week of Parliament for the year.
This leaves all crossbench and Coalition Senators opposed to the legislation, ensuring it cannot pass the Senate.
Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said there had been strong community opposition to the bill and experts had also raised serious concerns.
“Instead, the government needs to focus on comprehensive reforms that tackle the business models and dangerous algorithms that fuel division and damage democracy, and legislate a duty of care so these platforms prevent harm in the first place.”
Hanson-Young, however, said mis- and disinformation does need to be tackled, describing it as a “growing danger to democracy, public discourse, health, and safety both in Australia and around the world.”
“However we are concerned this bill doesn’t actually do what it needs to do when it comes to stopping the deliberate mass distribution of false and harmful information,” she added.
One Nation Want Bill Removed From Senate Agenda
The Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation Bill) 2024, which provides the government with the power to fine social media companies for “misinformation,” is on the Nov. 25 Senate agenda.
One Nation Senators Malcolm Roberts and Pauline Hanson aim to discharge the bill from the notice paper.
“Other Senators will be asked to vote on Senator Roberts and Hanson’s joint motion removing the Bill from listed business, effectively killing it,” Roberts said on X.
In another post on Nov. 23, he said, “The Misinformation and Disinformation (MAD) Bill is designed to silence YOU and stop you from questioning the government. It’s censorship, plain and simple—and it MUST be rejected.”
Shadow Minister for Communications David Coleman indicated on Nov. 22 that the misinformation bill will not pass the Senate.
What’s in the Bill?
The bill (pdf) provides the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with the power to hold digital platforms to account for misinformation and disinformation on their platforms.
This includes making rules, issuing remedial directions, imposing hefty fines, and handing out formal warnings.
Misinformation and disinformation is content that “contains information that is ”reasonably verifiable as false, misleading and deceptive“ and ”reasonably likely to cause or contribute to serious harm.”
Serious harm includes harm to the operation or integrity of a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government electoral or referendum process.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton explained in October that the Coalition is standing firm against Labor’s misinformation bill because “government or bureaucrats shouldn’t decide what’s true or false.”
But Labor Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told the ABC on Nov. 19 that the bill strikes the balance between both freedoms of expression and protection from harm.
