Ralph Babet (Victoria, United Australia Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian people have emerged victorious in our fight for free speech, a fight against our very own government. This version of the misinformation bill is dead, but only a fool would believe that the Labor government's love affair with censorship is finished. The problem, unfortunately, goes much deeper than the Australian Labor Party. The public must never forget that the misinformation bill was first promoted by the Liberal Party. Former Liberal communications minister Paul Fletcher was the first to announce the introduction of the misinformation and disinformation bill, back in 2022.

Whether Liberal or Labor and whether in Australia or in other parts of the Western world, major political parties are in lockstep in attempting to censor free speech. It doesn't matter whether you're in the UK, France, Canada or New Zealand, they're all singing from the same songbook. Here's the problem: government bureaucrats across the world are determined to stifle free speech. By controlling information, globalist interests can be free to impose their utopian vision upon unsuspecting populations. Yes, the misinformation bill is dead here in Australia, but will it come back? That's the question. And what form will it take?

Those of us committed to freedom of speech have won a battle, but the war for the West is far from won. The major parties have turned their efforts towards social media bans coupled with mandatory identification. I will face that battle, too. For as long as I am in this Senate, I will continue to, in the words of the great Donald J Trump, fight, fight, fight. And, as Argentina's President, Javier Milei, likes to say, long live freedom!