As individuals on all sides of the political spectrum raise alarms about it choking freedom of expression, speech and privacy, even with a forced seven-day submission period, the Senate hearings alone into the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill prove why it is such a bad idea.

Even the Human Rights Commission and pro-vaccination pandemic doctors expressed concerns the new laws would censor legitimate debate while failing to protect anyone from harm. But it was how the Institute of Public Affairs was dealt with at the inquiry that raised eyebrows. They warned senators that the Australian Communications and Media Authority would have the power to initiate investigations based on requests from the communications minister, allowing for the possibility of criminal charges resulting from such investigations, potentially putting people in prison for expressing views deemed incorrect by the government.

As the IPA tried to give this evidence, Labor Senator Karen Grogan repeatedly tried to shut them down to stop them from making the claim, even as they pointed to the exact clause in the bill that would allow such a frightening prospect.

If this is how Labor senators try to shut down free speech without the bill in force, in public view and written on Hansard, imagine how they will go with the ability to gag and punish people who say things they believe to be wrong with no such transparency?

Repeatedly, the Labor chair would only allow her political opponents such as One Nation's Malcolm Roberts five minute blocks to question witnesses, while Climate 200-funded Senator David Pocock, a vital instrument for her government, was regularly given triple the time.

According to the government, the public have no ability to sort through information from a variety of sources and come to our own conclusions.

We are, according to them, a country of total morons incapable of applying any critical evaluation to the opinions we hear.

We all have to filter rubbish with every person we talk to everyday. Why is online any different? Gagging critics will never improve a lousy government or correct misleading media. The answer is not less free speech - it's more.

Source: The Daily Telegraph