The Albanese government has scrapped controversial legislation that aimed to regulate online posts, as there’s no way to get the proposal through the Senate. As Parliament heads into its final sitting week of the year, the government has also been forced to delay changes to gambling ads, leaving the future of that legislation uncertain. Political reporter Stephanie Dalzell has more.
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00:00A sit down ahead of crunch time in Canberra.
00:05Thanks for having me.
00:07Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young declaring her party won't be supporting the government's
00:12legislation to rid the internet of mis and dis information.
00:16Badly and poorly explained and implemented.
00:20The practical implementation was just not there.
00:23The legislation would have handed the media watchdog additional powers to pressure tech
00:28companies to crack down on fake news on their platforms.
00:32The coalition has been staunchly against the bill, arguing it could censor free speech.
00:37The end of the year is coming not with a bang but with a whimper.
00:42We've seen today the misinformation bill die its inevitable death.
00:47It's very disappointing that again we see that teaming up between Peter Dutton and the
00:52Greens to block legislation.
00:54A frustrated government seeking to sprook other plans for change ahead of the last sitting
00:59week of the year.
01:01We are attempting this week to pass about 30 crucial bills.
01:05As it faced another blow to its legislative agenda.
01:11The government forced to delay plans aimed at overhauling gambling advertising, which
01:16involved limiting the timing and frequency of gambling ads on TV.
01:21Some Labor MPs and advocates were pushing for a total ban and the government has conceded
01:27it's run out of time, insisting it hopes to take action on the issue in the future.
01:32This is a very difficult and complex piece of work that simply cannot be finalised in
01:37the remaining week that we have of parliament this year.
01:39The government heads into the final parliamentary sitting week of the year with a shrinking
01:43legislative agenda, facing likely defeats on bills for housing support, international
01:49student number caps and its future made in Australia legislation.
01:53As it seeks to shape the election contest Labor will be stressing its wins on aged care
01:58and social media age limits, while using any legislative losses to accuse the Coalition
02:04and the Greens of standing in the way of change.