Analyzing Free Speech and Political Communication in Australia

This presentation examines the complex relationship between free speech and political communication in Australia, particularly focusing on the influence of social media. The presentation begins with an introduction to the topic, emphasizing the increasing role of social media in political discourse and the importance of understanding the interplay between political actors, public opinion, and media. It then delves into the specifics of Australian law regarding free speech, highlighting the absence of explicit constitutional protection and the High Court's interpretation. The presentation explores the positive and negative aspects of social media's impact, acknowledging its role as a platform for public discussion and information dissemination while also addressing potential downsides such as the spread of misinformation and the influence of financial interests. It concludes by stressing the importance of maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and responsible citizenship, advocating for both government efforts to protect free speech and individual responsibility in online communication.

NAME OF THE
STUDENT-
NAME OF THE
COLLEGE-
SUBMISSION DATE-
TOPIC- FREE SPEECH IN
AUSTRALIA

INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, politics is the most talked topic on the
internet. Presence of social media has made the
process much more interesting for the people to take
part in it. Political parties have dedicated followers
which makes it predictable for the political system to
understand the value of their party amongst the
people.
Not just in a positive sense, social media communication
has also acted as a threat to the political
communication because of the widespread collection of
comments on the policies of the government.
Social media has joined the public as a single entity
against the government as a whole.

THE COMPONENTS OF
POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
OVER SOCIAL MEDIA
The public being the key element of political
communication, is effected by three
components –public opinion, political actors
and media. The three components arrange
together to create social media political
communication.
However, the Australian laws do not explicitly
protect the freedom of speech. It is held by the
high court that the law contains freedom of
political communication as an integral part of
a responsible and representative government.

UNPROTECTED FREE
SPEECH
In the world of unprotected free speech,
social media has created a sphere
where, the laws too can be questioned
by the public in a way which makes
them safe and spreads their word.
Social media has created a free speech
lawn in the country to reach the public
with real scenarios and not mere
statements of facts and figures.

HOW GOOD IS SOCIAL
MEDIA?
Although, social media has created a
platform for the people to reach out the
policies and activities of the
government, but it is not always good
for the public opinion.
The limit of social media arises when the
people in power might have an authority
to make social media as a market for
raising issues and questioning the
opposition with the help of money.

SOCIAL MEDIA AS A FREE SPEECH
 Freedom of speech over the social
media can turn into hate club in the
case of political communication
leaving an everlasting effect on the
person or the political party.
 The free speech theory is disturbed
in the case of social media when the
people in power use financial
assistance as a medium of acquiring
support in general public.

AUSTRALIAN FREEDOM OF
SPEECH
 The freedom of speech does not mean that
the person has an absolute power over their
opinion presence and comment.
 It is held that, the speech is free to be
constituted only until the person does not
cross the barrier of being a responsible
citizen.
 But, this might effect the free speech theory
of social media as number of different
platforms allow the citizens to stand for
their own opinion and spread it.

MAINTAINING THE BALANCE
Social media might act as one of the major
platforms for the people to take action
and discuss opinion with the other
people present but the government must
also put in efforts to protect the freedom
laws as Australia is the only advanced
country to not have protection their
freedom of speech.
Whereas, people must also limit their
social media comments and research for
an issue before moving into the