Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to be Minister representing the Special Minister of State. An infamous evil in history—and I quote—devised his movement: 'Repeat a lie continuously, continually and constantly, and people will believe it's the truth even though it is a lie.' The LNP Townsville are obviously fellow travellers. The Hinchinbrook by-election has had the worst lying I've encountered in 25 years in politics, and that's saying a lot. The LNP said, 'We support castle law.' They've opposed its introduction three times. 'We're not going to abolish coal.' They've kept the coal tax, which will abolish coal. Three mineshave effectively closed. The LNP said KAP candidate Molachino had been for Labor. We have the text messages showing the LNP approached him as their first-choice candidate for Hinchinbrook. Minister, do we have an avenue to stop flagrant, unconscionable LNP lying?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to get you to withdraw the last part of the statement because we had this discussion yesterday and we're not going down that path again.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Untruths'.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just withdraw. 'I withdraw'—that's all you need to say.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Alright. I withdraw that aspect of the question.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, representing the Special Minister of State, it's a very broad question, because you're talking about a state issue. So, to make it relevant, the minister will have to make her answer relevant to Commonwealth law, and she won't be able to give much leeway around the state issue, because she's not responsible for state issues. The minister has the call.

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank the member for Kennedy for his question. One thing he did reference in his question was his long and distinguished public service. I would like to recognise the unveiling of his portrait today, which recognises that 50 years. I think we can all agree it is a striking portrait at that.

Going to the member for Kennedy's question, as the Speaker has rightly pointed out, this is in the jurisdiction of Queensland state law. But I do agree with the member for Kennedy that truthful content in political communication is a genuine issue. It is an issue that has been examined by this parliament through several avenues. The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters considered this issue in its last term, resulting in the Special Minister of State introducing legislation for consideration, which contains a model to regulate and govern truth in political ads. There's an open invitation from the Special Minister of State for all members, including the member for Kennedy, and senators to meet with him to discuss this important reform. We know that regulating paid political communication and, indeed, more broadly, mis- and disinformation is a complex issue, with many members and senators having varied ideas, concerns and views on these types of pieces of legislation.

I also note that states and territories are in different stages of legislating this type of content in paid political communication, with my home state of South Australia being one of those with the most progress. The Australian Electoral Commission, one of the most trusted Commonwealth agencies, who have the primary task of running our federal elections, have made their views clear. The AEC have consistently given evidence that this is not an area of law that should be rushed or approached without careful consideration. This includes, of course, the question of who should be the authority and regulator of the content of truth and opinion. As the Commonwealth, we must consider the constitutionally implied freedom of political communication in any reform. But the member for Kennedy does raise an issue that concerns all elected members of parliament. I would say that one thing that I'm always reminded of regularly is that the Australian public are not silly; they often can see through these smear campaigns and rhetoric, and I always put trust in the Australian people.