Bill
Constitution Alteration (Right to Free Speech) 2025
before parliament, as at 2025-07-28.
- Sponsor
- Ralph Babet
- Portfolio
- Not recorded
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2025-02-12
- second reading — 2025-02-12
- other — 2025-07-21
- other — 2025-07-28
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2025-02-12.
This bill would add a right to free speech to the Australian Constitution.
It would insert a new chapter and section barring the Commonwealth and states from making laws that limit free speech, including press and media freedom.
The change would take effect only if approved by a majority of all eligible voters nationally and in a majority of states at a referendum.
- The bill would insert a new Chapter IIIA and section 80A into the Constitution.
- It would prohibit the Commonwealth or a state from making any law that limits freedom of speech.
- The bill would require a referendum under section 128 before the alteration takes effect.
The change would affect all Australians, including the press and other media.
Sources
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