The weaponisation of free speech under the Morrison government

In recent years, the concept of 'free speech' appears to have reached a position of significant prominence in public debate. In this context, we ask 'how' the concept of free speech was used discursively by the Morrison-led government. Utilising a political discourse analytic app...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian journal of political science 2023-12, Vol.58 (4), p.326-342
Main Authors: Gelber, Katharine, Murphy, Molly
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Debates and debating
Discourse analysis
Discourses
Freedom of speech
Government
Political aspects
Political discourse
Politics and government
Positioning
Prime ministers
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Summary:In recent years, the concept of 'free speech' appears to have reached a position of significant prominence in public debate. In this context, we ask 'how' the concept of free speech was used discursively by the Morrison-led government. Utilising a political discourse analytic approach, and examining texts from 2019 to 2021, we argue that, and show how, the government engaged in multiple discourses around free speech that were incompatible, inconsistent and incoherent. These inconsistencies and discontinuities were so significant as to render this a 'weaponisation' of free speech discourse. Thus, the article both reveals the complexities of the Morrison government's discursive positioning of free speech, and renders sensible the otherwise nonsensical way in which 'free speech' was used to garner support for a range of public policies.
ISSN:1036-1146
1363-030X
DOI:10.1080/10361146.2023.2242304