Why Anthony Albanese has been slammed over his latest message to Aussies
An announcement on domestic abuse by Anthony Albanese was hit with a bitter backlash after Aussies rejected the Prime Minister’s bid to introduce disinformation laws.
Mr Albanese marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Monday with a video in a post on X – but was criticized in the comments.
X-users took to the Prime Minister’s post to express their anger at the proposed disinformation law, which has been branded by many as an attempt at censorship.
“Today we pause to remember all those whose lives have been lost to domestic and family violence,” the Prime Minister said in his video address.
‘Every death is one too many. One death a week is an epidemic, and each death is its own universe of devastation.
“Domestic, family and sexual violence goes against everything we hold dear as Australians.”
But one commenter responded: “That includes censorship and banning children from interacting with their friends and family. It’s all quite un-Australian.’
Another accused the prime minister of “diversion” and said he was trying to rush the bill to “prevent the next generation of voters from receiving alternative views and information outside government-approved sources.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could not avoid the flak over the scrapped bill on Monday
“Oh look at how this guy is trying to make us ‘safe’,” said another irate commenter.
“So I understand this is very important. But as always, this is unfortunately announced while he is trying to push through the Digital ID law. It’s disgusting.’
The Prime Minister’s post came a day after Communications Minister Michelle Rowland confirmed Labor would abandon its attempt to introduce a disinformation law.
Ms Rowland made the announcement on Sunday after revelations that the Greens, Coalition and several cross-benchers would not support the legislation.
While disinformation laws may be abolished, the Albanian government has also introduced the world’s first legislation to ban under-16s from social media platforms.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed support for the new laws, meaning they will almost certainly be passed by parliament.
And the government also plans to roll out a digital ID system by the end of the year.
In August, Public Services Minister Bill Shorten announced an $11.4 million trial of a QR code mobile phone application that would replace a driver’s license card or passport to verify a person’s identity.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced that Labor would abandon the introduction of the disinformation law
The technology is accessible through a person’s myGov wallet and stores information such as a person’s date of birth, address, citizenship, visa status, qualifications, professional licenses or checks for working with children, and other information already held by the government.
Australians could use the technology to book hotel rooms, verify their identity with a new employer or prove they are over 18 at a bar, Shorten said.
But the proposal has sparked widespread concerns among security experts and non-Labour MPs.
While Albanese spoke about domestic violence on Monday, a landmark investigation found it was still widespread in the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage announced findings into the murders of four Aboriginal women – Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Miss Yunupingu and Kumarn Rubuntja – by their partners.
During the course of the investigation, the coroner’s office was aware of 86 domestic violence deaths among women in the NT, most of them Aboriginal, in the past 24 years.
In the presence of Domestic and Family Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin, the coroner called for funding for a territory peak body to respond to the ‘shocking horror’.
“Only the Northern Territory, which has the highest rates of domestic violence in the country, does not have a peak body,” she told the court.
“We must honestly admit that our government and non-governmental agencies are failing to turn the tide.”