Opened the debate
Steggall moved the motion for the second reading, arguing that the bill replicated government legislation from the previous term that had lapsed. Steggall asserted that passing the bill immediately would allow the Australian Electoral Commission sufficient time to implement safeguards before the next election. Steggall highlighted that 89 per cent of Australians supported truth in political advertising laws and noted that similar protections already existed in jurisdictions such as South Australia, the ACT, New Zealand and the UK. Steggall argued that the current legal framework allowed third-party campaigners and astroturfing organisations to spread misinformation without accountability. Steggall maintained that the High Court had established that free speech did not include the right to lie or mislead, and that opinions could still be expressed if clearly identified as such. Steggall warned that failing to act would erode trust in political outcomes and allow parties to exploit loopholes for misleading advertising.