Defending Free Speech Australia
I decided last night that I have an obligation as an individual and citizen of Australia to make a conscious effort to do whatever I can to express my views to our politicians and law makers. To share my viewpoints with them and to cast some light on issues that I see as important.
It’s one thing to sit around bitching about what is going on in society, the laws that are being passed, freedom of speech, the influence of social media, the allocation of taxpayer money but really, what good is this going to do apart from riling up a couple of my old friends. The time has come for me to become more responsible for my own viewpoints and to share them with politicians and people in power who I may be able to influence or think twice about some of the issues that concern me.
One of my biggest fears is the use of the press by what I see as vested interests and minority power groups to spread false information about matters that could determine or influence the freedom of our country to have access to information and freedom of speech. Labels have been weaponized over the past decades to be used to categorize individuals and groups who are seen as a threat to the status quo.
Here’s a few I can thing of, although there are many more.
- Conspiracy Theorist
- Anti-Vaxxer (which can be used against somebody who does not trust big Pharma)
- Spreader of mis-information
- Redefinition of “right wing” and “left wing”
- Pro-Putin (which might be a label attached to somebody who is anti-war).
The list could go on and on but I just want to illustrate how easy it is to “cancel” somebody these days with one of two simple “labels”.
Unfortunately the powers that be have large sums of money at their finger tips and understand how easy it is to discredit anyone whom they see fit to target. My basic premise is to follow the money. The implications of this are huge.
I owe it to myself and to my fellow citizens to share my viewpoints and to exercise my own right to freedom of speech.
So I wrote a letter to Senator Linda White.
Dear Senator White,
I hope this letter finds you well. I recently received your letter informing me that you are my voice in the Australian Senate, and I want to express my gratitude for your representation.
One of the issues you address is the prevalence of scams, which come in various forms, often camouflaged. Throughout my life, one of the greatest privileges of being an Australian has been the freedom to form personal viewpoints based on my own experiences and research. I strive to live by two fundamental principles: firstly, to explore and experience diverse perspectives, and secondly, to conduct myself in a manner that is accessible and relatable to others. In a democratic society, it is our responsibility to seek the truth, engage in debates, and contemplate various ideas. When the media assumes its role as a gatekeeper protecting us from potentially harmful misinformation, it can inadvertently manipulate us.
In Australia, a country that cherishes freedom, it is crucial that individuals have unrestricted access to information and research without censorship by the government or so-called “fact-checkers.” I recently became aware of a proposal by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to establish a “code” or set of practices for social media platforms. This proposal aims to enforce content removal and increase reliance on fact-checkers, with potential fines of nearly $5 million for violations.
While I acknowledge that misinformation has always existed and that we have managed to navigate through it, I firmly believe that Australians are wise enough to employ logic and reason in sifting through the abundance of information and forming our own conclusions. In order for a country to remain free and democratic, it is paramount that “fact-checkers” (who themselves require scrutiny) with potential vested interests or biases do not possess the authority to censor information, unless it directly incites violence or causes specific harm to fellow Australians or humanity in general. Throughout history, we have successfully made informed decisions as individuals, shaping our own minds over the past few centuries.
Allow me to provide a historical example. In the 1960s, when our government decided to align with the United States and send our young men to war in Vietnam through conscription, many of us held diverse viewpoints on the war’s legitimacy. Demonstrations and moratoriums, fueled by public opinion, ultimately helped us recognize the error of our ways. The same phenomenon occurred when Australia participated in the unlawful invasion of Iraq alongside the US and UK. Today, with the current climate, those who oppose war might be labeled as purveyors of “misinformation.”
I won’t delve further into details within this letter, but I trust you understand my concerns. Let us preserve the status quo, as freedom of speech and diverse perspectives are incredibly vital in a free country. I’ve noticed an increasing number of “vested interest” groups and newspapers spreading confusion by labeling individuals as conspiracy theorists. The landscape has been turned upside down. Formerly, I was considered a liberal and free-thinking individual, but nowadays, my liberal viewpoints could easily be misconstrued as “conspiracy theories,” or I could be wrongly labeled as “right-wing,” which I am certainly not.
I urge you to utilize your influential voice in the Senate to oppose any proposals that seek to suppress our freedom of speech and grant undue power to unspecified individuals or self-proclaimed “experts” in the guise of protecting Australians from “misinformation.” While I understand your busy schedule, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further. Nonetheless, I implore you to consider the importance of my message.
Thank you for your time and dedication to serving our great nation.
Sincerely,
Gary Collier
