Free speech has always been a topic of much contention, since the signing of the Magna Carta in

1215, to Lange V Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Laurence Nathan Levy V the State of
Victoria & Ors (both in 1997). But in today’s increasingly interconnected world, the debate around
this issue flares up more and more often. In this persuasive text, I will attempt to convince the
reader that freedom of speech is a good thing, using recent events as a lens.

Firstly, I would like to make the argument that the only way to have a fair and equal democracy is
through freedom of speech. In simpler terms, if you don’t know all the facts, how do you know who
to vote for? Lack of freedom of speech around elections usually exists in two different forms. The
more overt “This candidate is the best, everyone else is bad” kind, which is more common in the
second and third world, and the subtler kind, which involves giving next to no media spotlight on a
candidate, similar to what happened the Bernie Sanders in the 2016 US election. The second type is
far more prevalent in western/first world countries, and arguably more common overall

Secondly, I would like to make the argument that without freedom of speech, other human rights
issues cannot be bought to the fore. In general, freedom of speech underpins a variety of other
human rights, directly or not. Without freedom of speech (and a free press, to boot) how would we
(as a society) know about torture of Prisoners Of War, the violations of Indigenous land rights, or
persecution of LGBTI people? And if no one knows, no one cares.

Finally, when most people think of “freedom of speech” they usually think that it’s limited to what
people can say, or post on the internet, but this is a major misconception. Freedom of speech
influences all of the arts, from painting to theatre to stand up comedy. In addition, freedom of
speech is integral to have constructive academic debate. How can you share ideas, if you’re not
allowed to say what they are?

To conclude, I would like to say that free speech is an important aspect of a “healthy” country, a way
to ensure that a democracy is open, a way to become aware of human rights, and a way to make
sure there is a flourishing arts community