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Labor Plans to Silence You

Dear ATA Supporters,
The alarm bells are ringing, and it’s time we all pay attention. The Australian government is moving to silence dissent and control public discourse through their so-called Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024. If passed, this legislation will change the fabric of our democracy, and not for the better. Free speech, the cornerstone of our society, is under direct attack.
Let me show you exactly how they plan to do it—and why we need to stand up before it’s too late.
1. A Government-Approved Narrative

The new bill gives the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) the power to police online platforms, ensuring they remove content deemed "misinformation" or "disinformation." But here’s the kicker: the government gets to decide what is "true" and what is "false."
How does this work? Let’s say you post something critical of government policy. Under this new law, a government official could decide your post is "misleading" or "harmful"—and just like that, ACMA pressures the platform (Facebook, Google, YouTube) to take it down.
You may think you have the right to voice your opinion, but in reality, your speech will be subject to the whims of government bureaucrats. They don’t need to prove your statement is false—they just need to trigger an investigation, and your content is gone.
2. Platforms Forced to Comply—Or Be Punished

Under this legislation, social media platforms are terrified of penalties. They will be incentivised to over-censor any content that might get them into trouble. ACMA can issue hefty fines or take platforms to court if they don't act quickly enough to remove "misinformation."
This means platforms like Facebook, Google, Youtube, and Instagram will err on the side of caution—they’ll take down your content before it has been properly reviewed. If you post something that challenges the government’s narrative, your voice will likely be erased before anyone has a chance to see it.
This is how free speech dies—not with a bang, but with a quiet deletion.
3. Even If You’re Right, You Lose

Imagine you’ve posted the truth. You’ve got your facts straight, and you’re raising important points about a government policy. But the government doesn’t like it. They decide to launch an investigation through ACMA.
Your post is taken down while the investigation proceeds. It could take weeks or months before your content is reviewed and possibly reinstated. But by then, the damage is done. Your voice has been silenced at the most critical moment—when your message needed to be heard, perhaps during an election campaign when voters need to hear your message.
This is what we mean when we say the process is the punishment. You may eventually be proven right, but it won’t matter. Your post has already been erased from the public square. The conversation moves on without you.
4. Political Speech in the Crosshairs

What makes this bill even more dangerous is the inclusion of political content under its scope. If you’re running an online campaign to challenge the government’s policies or highlight their failures, your content could be flagged as "misinformation."
This is especially dangerous during election seasons, when robust debate is crucial for democracy. The bill could give the government the power to shut down political criticism right when it matters most. Your views could be labeled "harmful" and swept off the platform, leaving only one side of the story available to voters.
This isn’t just censorship—this is state-sponsored suppression of political opposition.
5. Vague Definitions, Unlimited Power

The terms "misinformation" and "disinformation" are deliberately left vague and open to interpretation. What exactly is "serious harm"? Who decides when speech is "misleading"?
With such broad definitions, anything the government doesn’t like could be labeled as harmful, giving them a blank check to control the narrative. Today, it’s misinformation. Tomorrow, it’s political dissent.
6. Tech Giants as Government Enforcers

Make no mistake: under this law, social media platforms will become extensions of the government. They will act as censors, removing content not because they believe it’s false, but because they’re scared of government punishment.
We are entering a world where Big Tech becomes the government’s enforcement arm, wiping away posts, videos, and accounts at the first sign of controversy—no matter how truthful or necessary that content might be. Free speech won’t stand a chance.
How Do We Stop This?

The time to act is now. This bill hasn’t passed yet, but if we do nothing, it soon will. We need to raise our voices against this dangerous assault on free speech.
This is not just about one law—it’s about protecting the very foundation of our democracy. If the government can control speech, they can control everything.
What Can You Do?

Spread the word about the dangers of this bill. Share this email with your friends and family.

Contact your MPs and tell them you oppose the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024.

Stay informed and stay engaged. The fight for free speech doesn’t end here—it’s a battle we must continue to fight every day.

Freedom is on the line, and the government is counting on you staying silent.
Together, we can stop this. Let’s defend our right to speak, to think, and to challenge authority. Free speech is not negotiable.
https://www.taxpayers.org.au/

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