The Ardern government of New Zealand has been accused of attempting to suppress alternative media outlets. As a result, a new platform called Reality Check Radio has emerged to challenge the government narrative. This development comes as the Five Eyes alliance, backed by the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, launches an effort to intimidate and silence individuals in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom who question globalist narratives.
Both the Australian and New Zealand governments, led by the Labor and Green parties, are set to push through so-called “online safety” bills after what critics view as a superficial process of public consultation. However, the government faces an uphill battle in their efforts to suppress alternative media outlets such as Cairns News, Australian National Review, Zee Media, Tott News, Independent Australia, Rebel News, TNT Radio, and popular New Zealand platforms like Reality Check Radio, Counterspin Media, and The Platform. These are just a few examples of a thriving alternative media scene that challenges mainstream narratives.
At a state level in Australia, the Queensland Labor government has launched an attack on free speech through a bill that seeks to criminalize “hate speech” and vilification of minorities. By incorporating provisions of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 into the Queensland Criminal Code, the government gives the police unprecedented powers to get involved in people’s personal lives and exert control over their actions. This move has sparked concerns among civil liberties advocates who see it as a threat to democracy.
Parallel to these developments, national-level bills are proposing substantial fines in the millions of dollars for social media companies that fail to curb the spread of “disinformation” and keep a register of it. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), operating under the Combating Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, will act as the arbiter in determining what constitutes “disinformation and misinformation”. Critics fear that this legislation will stifle free debate and prevent open discussions on important issues, such as abortion and gender identity.
The Australian Christian Lobby, which represents a wide range of Christian denominations, has expressed concerns about the bill and sees it as a tool to suppress dissenting views. The CEO of the Australian Christian Lobby, Michelle Pearse, warns that digital platforms will become cautious and hesitant to engage with potentially controversial content due to the risk of penalties. This will lead to excessive monitoring and compilation of records of non-conforming activities, infringing on individuals’ privacy and free expression.
Across the Tasman Sea, the newly appointed Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Hipkins, and his Labor-Green coalition government are also cracking down on dissenting voices. The Department of Internal Affairs, known as Te Tare Taiwhenua, is driving a censorship agenda. In a promotional video, they present their efforts as promoting “safer online services and media platforms”, but critics argue that this is just a thinly veiled attempt to suppress alternative views.
Meanwhile, mainstream media channels in New Zealand, such as Stuff.co and Radio New Zealand, have been actively spreading propaganda to discredit individuals and groups critical of the government. Stuff Circuit, a documentary produced by Stuff.co, demonizes these dissenting voices, portraying them as dangerous conspiracy theorists. The authorities are using a combination of fearmongering and character assassination to discredit those who challenge the mainstream narrative.
However, these efforts are facing significant opposition from alternative media outlets. One notable example is Voices for Freedom, which recently launched its own radio station called Reality Check Radio. Reality Check Radio features prominent defectors from mainstream media, such as Peter Williams, a well-known sports journalist and newsreader, and Paul Brennan from Radio NZ. This new platform provides a space for open discussions and dissenting voices that challenge the dominant narrative.
The clampdown on alternative media is not unique to New Zealand and Australia. There is growing evidence of an internationally coordinated effort to suppress dissenting voices within the Five Eyes alliance, which includes Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Many suspect that this crackdown is a response to increased skepticism and questioning of globalist narratives.
In conclusion, the attempts by the Ardern government of New Zealand and the Labor and Green party governments in Australia to suppress alternative media outlets are facing resistance from a vibrant and growing alternative media scene. Reality Check Radio and other platforms are providing an essential counterbalance to mainstream narratives, offering a space for open debate and dissent in the face of increasing government control and censorship. It remains to be seen how governments will respond to this growing movement and whether they will succeed in silencing alternative voices.
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