United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet today introduced a Bill to give the Australian people the opportunity enshrine freedom of speech in the Australian Constitution, warning that free expression is under increasing threat.
The Constitution Alteration (Right to Free Speech) 2025 seeks to insert a new Chapter IIIA and section 80A into the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, ensuring that no law—state or federal—can limit freedom of speech, including freedom of the press and other media.
“This Bill is urgently needed to protect a fundamental right that Australians assume they already have,” Senator Babet said.
“But that assumption is dangerously misplaced. The right to say what we think has been steadily eroded, with laws passed at both state and federal levels restricting speech rather than safeguarding it.”
Senator Babet said Australians were increasingly fearful of expressing opinions openly, citing the risk of public scrutiny and legal repercussions for views that challenge prevailing ideologies.
“It is a brave person who, in today’s climate, publicly states that men cannot become women. Is this really the kind of country we want—where expressing biological truths can lead to interrogation by tribunals and potentially jail time?” he said.
Comparing the proposed alteration to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Senator Babet said the reform would align with Australians’ belief in a “fair go” and the right to voice opinions without fear of retribution.
“Our Constitution already protects religious freedom under Section 116—why not free speech? Without the ability to express our thoughts, freedom itself is undermined,” he said.
“This Bill will give Australians the power to vote in a referendum and decide for themselves how important freedom of speech truly is. I believe they will vote overwhelmingly in favour, because Australians, despite their differences, believe in the right to speak freely.”
Senator Babet urged his colleagues in the Senate to support the Bill, stating: “There shouldn’t be a single Senator who opposes free speech or who tells their constituents they want to make it harder for them to express their views. We are here to defend freedoms, not to restrict them.”
