23 November 2016
Frequently Asked Questions About Section 18C Of The Racial Discrimination Act 1975
Question: What was Section 18C intended to do? Answer: On 15 November 1994 in his Second Reading speech to the Racial Hatred Bill 1994 (which introduced Section 18C) the then Attorney-General, Mr Lavarch said: “The Racial Hatred Bill is about the protection of groups and individuals from threats of violence and the incitement of racial hatred, which leads inevitably to
11 November 2016
18C Repeal The Only Solution On Freedom Of Speech
Here’s a simple idea all lawmakers should adopt: when a law is fundamentally broken, it should be repealed. Not replaced. Repealed. So it is with section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Removing the words “offend” and “insult” from a provision that has been used as a weapon against newspaper cartoonists and university students is an incredibly modest proposal. Any
10 November 2016
IPA Poll: Most Support 18C Change
A Galaxy Research poll commissioned by the IPA has found that – of those that have an opinion – most support a change to section 18C that would remove the words “offend” and “insult”. This was covered in The Australian by Joe Kelly today: A new poll shows a majority of Australians disapprove of the Human Rights Commission for its pursuit
8 November 2016
IPA Welcomes Inquiry On Free Speech
The Institute of Public Affairs today welcomed the announcement of a parliamentary inquiry by the human rights committee into section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and curbs on freedom of speech in Australia. “This would help break the deadlock in parliament over section 18C and provide people with an opportunity to outline the consequences of limiting freedom of
2 November 2016
How The Bill Leak Saga Shows The Dangers Of 18C
The complaint made against Bill Leak shows everything that’s wrong with 18C, and why it must be repealed. The IPA’s Simon Breheny and Janet Albrechtsen explain what is at stake. Written by Simon Breheny and James Bolt Produced by James Bolt
26 August 2016
The Turnbull Government’s Disgraceful Free Speech Fail
The spectacle of Malcolm Turnbull arguing passionately for higher taxes on self-funded retirees while saying the reform of laws restricting freedom of speech in Australia was not a priority sits uneasily with what he said on the night he became prime minister. In the evening of September 15, 2015, he laid down the measure against which his time as PM
