News location:

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Coalition slams ‘Big Brother’ reform bill

The coalition isn’t happy with proposed laws to prevent harmful content being shown to children. Joanna Kordina/AAP PHOTOS

By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

Proposed digital duty-of-care laws have been labelled “Big Brother” political censorship by the coalition in a disagreement over social media reform.

Labor is hoping to garner multi-party support for the contentious social media changes, which have been overshadowed in recent days by simmering feuds centred on One Nation’s Pauline Hanson.

Under the proposed laws, tech companies could face fines of more than $100 million for failing to identify and prevent potentially harmful content being shown to users younger than 18.

The banned content includes material encouraging disordered eating, promoting misogyny or online bullying.

While Labor does not plan to legislate the reforms before the end of the year, it is seeking feedback and suggestions for the bill in the hope of achieving broad support.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the drafting of the digital duty of care legislation was a blank cheque on political censorship due to ministerial discretion to define harmful content.

“This is the Big Brother bill, frankly … they should put forward an alternative. But right now, that’s what we’re seeing, and we can’t support that,” he told reporters on Monday.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said she was willing to alter the proposed legislation to ensure it passed.

“I would be prepared to work with the coalition on the wording to make that work that meets the urgency requirement of the intent of that measure,” she told the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said the draft laws were a “backdoor way” to reintroduce Labor’s failed disinformation and misinformation bill.

“This is abhorrent legislation … we are going to fight it every step of the way,” she told News24.

The proposed laws include measures to force social media companies to offer users the option of algorithm-free feeds that show them posts from friends and other accounts they follow.

  • 1800 RESPECT (1800 737732)
  • Lifeline 131114
  • Men’s Referral Service 1300 766491

News all day, every day at CityNews.com.au.

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Australian Associated Press

Australian Associated Press

Share this

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

Related Posts

News

Canberra Airport pitches new city stadium

Canberra Airport has proposed a new covered stadium near Commonwealth Park, arguing a city-centre venue could bring major sporting events, concerts and visitors into the heart of Canberra.

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews