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Imagine a modern Australian government acting as if its role is to keep Australians safe from ideas. This is unprecedented, unnecessary and dangerously undemocratic. Australia has always been a free country, broad-minded and openhearted. We’ve welcomed people fleeing from countries with oppressive government regimes and limitations to freedom.

To be honest, in my mind it is unimaginable, but recently we have been hearing about the danger of the exposure draft of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023.

I am thankful that we live in a ‘safe’ country. But none of us is asking to be kept safe from ideas. The action of limiting the ideas which may be disseminated though social media, ensures that those ideas that are not quite accurate cannot be honed by conversation. We are not able to come to the truth without words, conversations, arguments and ideas.

Truth is not something a government department can ‘tell us’. Truth cannot be ‘told’ and believed without a test; a verbal test.

If we lose the freedom to use words, we lose the freedom to even think, because thinking does not occur independently of words. We need to be able to manipulate our words, refine our thoughts and practice using them in intelligent discourse. If this opportunity is taken from all social media platforms, which is what is proposed, we will be like babes with a sword in our hands and no skill to use it. Our words as a society on the whole will become dangerous, unrefined and inaccurate.

Speak Up Now

ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, is an Australian government statutory authority within the Communications portfolio.

The final date for our input for this draft bill is the 6th of August.

Click on this link and write just a couple of thoughts in the area for feedback. Remember, it is our DUTY to let our Parliamentarians know what we think so they can properly represent us.

Most parliamentarians, above all, wish to be re-elected. Therefore, besides having our say on the government website above, for all issues including this draft bill, we can and should

• Visit our MPs’ offices with an appointment
• Send a normal mail letter with a stamp
• Write an email
• Make a phone call

Perhaps we need to form a strong team of polite people who will keep the MPs accountable so they truly can represent us.

Here are some simple thoughts about the draft misinformation bill in the form of MY WILL statements. but I recommend watching this 5.46-minute clear, succinct video which outlines the coming dangers in more detail.

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Dear Sir/Madam,

• I know that it is my duty to keep you informed of MY WILL on anything that comes before Parliament, or that should come before Parliament.
• IT IS MY WILL that you read the Combating Misinformation and Disinformation Draft Bill and that you understand the implications it will have on the Commonwealth of Australia.
• IT IS MY WILL that you oppose this bill because it goes against the fundamental pillar of our democracy, being our right of freedom of speech. In this matter the bill is contrary to our constitution. Without freedom of speech which this bill limits, we have no democracy.
• IT IS ALSO MY WILL that you discuss this very important matter with other Members of Parliament and make them aware of the seriousness of the consequences of this bill and the extreme ways in which Australian society will be altered.

Yours faithfully,
(signed)

~~~

Communicate in one or more of the four ways above, with all 12 of your Federal Upper House MPs. He or she will count the communications they receive and weigh the issue accordingly. Your letter need not be particularly eloquent or grammatically correct. Encourage and assist others to do the same. More than anything, Parliamentarians want to be re-elected.  So it is all about the number of voices they hear from and letters they receive, not about the unique points you may be able to articulate.

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Photo by Mike Bird.