This exemption that allows government messages to circumvent these stringent rules came under scrutiny by Australian Capital Territory Sen. David Pocock, an independent. He raised a valid point by questioning why government communications should be shielded from scrutiny, while content from other entities would be subject to rigorous examination.
To many observers, this exemption appears to be a glaring double standard, granting the government a level of immunity from the very accountability they aim to impose on others. Pocock expressed his skepticism, noting that such an exemption would likely fail the "pub test" when the laws are eventually introduced.
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Carol Brown swiftly came to the defense of the exemption, emphasizing that its primary purpose is to prevent inadvertent removal of critical emergency communications from the government by social media platforms.
Special Minister of State Don Farrell, who oversees electoral matters, acknowledged the complexity of the issue. "It's a challenging topic," he conceded. Striking the right balance between safeguarding free speech and combatting misinformation is undeniably a delicate task...<<<Read More>>>...