Racial Discrimination Act changes to be introduced to Parliament; free speech debate not over, say senators
Controversial changes to racial discrimination laws will be reintroduced to Parliament today despite the Prime Minister killing off the plan earlier this year.
A private senators bill will be introduced to the Upper House today co-sponsored by Family First Senator Bob Day, Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi and Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm.
Tony Abbott, killed off the proposal last month, arguing the changes were a "needless distraction" in the Government's relationship with the Muslim community and could inflame racial tensions at a time of heightened national security.
The Prime Minister previously made an election pledge to soften the country's race hate laws because he believed they limited free speech.
Senator Day said he felt compelled to take up the case and won the support of Senator Bernardi and Senator Leyonhjelm.
"I felt someone needed to do it. This is not really my thing. I came to Canberra on a platform of every family, a job and a house, but sometimes when you're on a journey and you come across an incident, sometimes you have to stop and help out," he said.
Earlier proposed changes would have removed a section of the Racial Discrimination Act that made it illegal to "hurt the feelings of others".
The latest bill seeks to remove the words "offend" and "insult" from section 18C of the Act with Senator Day saying people are too easily offended and he is defending free speech.
"I don't want there to be any silencing of debate and that's certainly been the case where people now feel they can be hauled off to court by someone who says that they're offended by what someone may have read, may have written or may have said and I don't think there's any place in Australia for that," he said.
"There is support right across the chamber, on the Coalition side, on the Labor side... and also on the crossbench."
Senator Day said he understood the Prime Minister's call to scrap the proposal at the time, but the situation has now changed.
"When the Muslim community didn't come on board with his Team Australia project ... I would have thought that all bets were off and that they could go back to square one and continue with the proposal for section 18C," he said.
When asked to clarify his position on the Muslim community's involvement in the Team Australia project, Senator Day said: "I think there was an arrangement made where I think there was some criticism afterwards on what the [Team Australia] proposal was, but I don't think it turned out how the Government planned.
"I think when the Prime Minister said that he was abandoning repealing that section, in discussions with, or in consideration of the Team Australia project, I don't think that turned out how the Government expected."
Labor Senator Doug Cameron says Senator Day's plan is about prejudice not freedom of speech.
"I've never heard a more irresponsible approach at a time when we're trying to get some national unity," he said.
Bernardi acting in defiance of PM: Opposition
Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has co-sponsored the bill which disappoints Labor's spokeswoman for citizenship and multiculturalism, Michelle Rowland.
"Senator Bernardi as a member of the Liberal Party seems to be wanting to bring back the right to be a bigot and that this notion is indeed alive and well," she said.
"It is very unfortunate that this comes at a time when our leaders, our political leaders as well, are calling for bipartisanship, for harmony and for calm and by choosing to do this at this time is grossly irresponsible.
"I believe Tony Abbott should pull Cory Bernardi into line.
"The fact that Senator Bernardi is out there putting his name to these amendments is very unfortunate and one that I believe the community would rightly expect the Prime Minister to act upon when one of his team is acting in defiance of him."
Senator Bernardi has not responded to requests for comment.
Senator Leyonhjelm said the discussion around freedom of speech was cut off too early and needs to be revived despite expected opposition from the Government.
"If a vote was held tomorrow then yes it would fail. But private senator bills sit on the notice paper for a long period of time," he said.
"We have to wait our turn. We don't get much Senate time to have our bills considered.
"So it will sit on the notice paper for perhaps, well, it could be a year, sometimes over a year with these things."
Senator Leyonhjelm said the free speech debate needs to continue despite the claims it could inflame racial tensions in the community.
"I don't think freedom of speech and the ability to speak freely and be confronted if you exhibit racial discrimination is going to change that situation at all - the debate about terrorism is really not about speech."
