An initiative of AMPS (Australian Medical Professionals’ Society), Australia Exits the WHO and the Winston Smith Initiative
The Australian Government is planning to censor independent journalism and our online activities.
It plans to do this soon, through the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 (MAD Bill) that will allow it to control what we hear, see and say.
The Senate has referred the provisions of the MAD Bill to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for a report by 25 November 2024. So if we want to keep free speech we MUST ACT NOW.
Here are 8 ways the MAD Bill can affect YOU
- The Government will be able to tell you what you can and can’t say.
- You can be fined over $500,000 for saying something that the government doesn’t approve – even if it’s true.
- You will lose access to online friends and online groups with views that the government doesn’t approve – even if they’re true.
- You will lose access to independent journalism, to scientific information and other important sources of information that enable you to understand the world.
- You will lose access to businesses that will be forced to close because they sell products based on information the government doesn’t approve.
- You will lose your freedom of choice, because you will no longer have balanced information to understand your choices properly.
- Your children will grow up seeing life through the lens of government propaganda rather than through the lens of truth.
- You will no longer live in a democratic state.
If you don’t want this to happen, here’s what you can do.
Take ACTION now!
Write to Independent and Greens Senators
You can write to the independent and Greens Senators and ask them to vote against this Bill. This is important because, at present, five more Senators are needed to vote again the Bill to stop it from being introduced.
The five Independent Senators are:
The Greens Senators are:
You can see tips about what you can say below.
When writing letters to Senators, it’s important to:
- be respectful
- be factual
- keep to the topic
- don’ be emotional
- use your own words.
Why our Senators should STOP the MAD Bill from becoming law
General
- is an overreach of government power
- will stifle democracy
- we did not elect politicians to stifle democracy and free speech
- puts the blame on the messenger instead of the receiver by assuming information can cause people to do inappropriate things
It will affect independents and minor political parties
- allows the political party in power to label views of their opponents as ‘mis-’ or ‘dis-’ information
- can be used against independents and minor political parties.
- can stop them from expressing opinions and connecting with social media networks
- will change communication and democracy in Australia and this will affect everyone, including politicians and their families
- senators who vote for the Bill will alienate Australian voters
Freedom of speech
- a democratic right
- a human right:
‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’ (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19)
Big Tech companies will enforce censorship
- gives Big Tech power over the people
- they decide what’s ‘information’ and what’s not
- there are not motivated to protect free speech
- they can silence people challenging corporate power
- it’s undemocratic
Government can use the Bill to
- control information people receive
- silence opposition/critics/dissent
- suppress social movements
- protect corrupt officials
Threatens social movements/activism
- can be used to stop social movements (eg race/LGBTQ/environment) that could benefit society
- disempowers people
- have more effect on marginalised communities already struggling to be heard
Media censorship
- doesn’t threaten corporate-controlled media
- threatens independent media
- takes away access to balanced information
- means information is being controlled by corporates in their interests, not ours
Public discussion
- can stop public debate
- make people fearful of expressing views
- people risk large fines
- prevents discussion about important social issues that can help society evolve
- destroys social media groups
- prevents people connecting with like-minded friends online
Access to information
- limit availability of information
- remove access to different points of view
- ensuring accessible information is biased
- prevent people making balanced/informed decisions
- gives corporates the ability to control information – which will be in their interests, not ours
Who determines truth?
- there is no one truth
- we all have different views on truth
- views on truth change over time
- the government cannot determine truth because:
- lacks expertise (social, moral, cultural, spiritual, historical, educational etc)
- It has close links with corporates.
- Government has links with corporations and corporates:
- fund political campaigns
- lobby politicians
- influence regulatory committees
- influence science
- get jobs in government
- there’s a revolving door between politicians and corporates
- it will lead to the suppression of truth
- don’t leave evaluation of truth in the hands of government agencies that have strong links with industry
- the Government has made mistakes about what information is true and what’s not in the past
Stop society moving forward/stop progress
- will silence dissenting experts
- will silence views that could move society in a positive direction:
- expand our awareness
- solve problems
- create harmony and understanding
Instead, we should
- educate people on social media use.
Contact your local radio station
- Let them know you’re concerned that the MAD Bill will cause problems for everyone.
- Mention a few of the points from the list above.
- It’s important that our Senators vote against the Bill.
- Let people know that they can find out more on this website: https://australiaexitsthewho.com/help-us-stop-the-mad-bill-now/
Read our previous Latest News - STOP the MAD Bill - Australia censors’ free speech
