
Truth Is Trouble
The strange case of Israel Folau, or How Free Speech Became So Complicated
- 272 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Truth Is Trouble
The strange case of Israel Folau, or How Free Speech Became So Complicated
About this book
From the marriage equality debate to the COVID-19 lockdown, 'free speech' has become the new battleground in Australian society. What does the furore over one footballer's social media postings reveal about how it got that way? For a period in 2019, a tweet from rugby player Israel Folau became the biggest story in the nation. His urging of homosexuals to 'repent' or face damnation cost him his job and divided the country. Churches and politicians, employers and labour lawyers, sponsors and shock jocks, even people who had never heard of Folau – everyone had an opinion about his right to express his view, and many shouted it from the digital rooftop. Now that the dust has settled, the real question emerges. When celebrities, and sportspeople in particular, are regularly 'rehabilitated' after incidents involving drink, drugs and domestic violence, why was it religious belief that got someone fired? In this powerful and insightful work, triple Walkley Award-winning journalist Malcolm Knox explores how freedom of expression has become our national faultline. Truth is Trouble explores the rise of the religious right and its political consequences; the 'right to be a bigot' versus 'cancel culture'; the changing nature of our rights at work and the separation between public and private lives; and above all, the incendiary power of social media. And by interrogating his own experience, Knox offers a convincing and heartfelt argument for the virtues of uncertainty and an open mind.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Introduction: The Written Word
- Chapter 1: Enter, Stage Right
- Chapter 2: How Izzy Folau Got Himself Into This Mess
- Chapter 3: Swimming Against the Tide
- Chapter 4: The Love that Dare Speak Its Name
- Chapter 5: The Colonial Legacy
- Chapter 6: The Virtuous Circle
- Chapter 7: The Speech Economy
- Chapter 8: An Incommunicable Disease
- Chapter 9: Free Speech in a Viral Age
- About the Author
- Endnotes
- Copyright