State Libs voice fears over race law changes
THE Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has welcomed statements from the NSW and Victorian state governments that freedom of speech cannot come at the expense of hate laws.
THE Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has welcomed statements from the NSW and Victorian state governments that freedom of speech cannot come at the expense of hate laws.
The statements from Liberal Premiers Barry O’Farrell in NSW and Denis Napthine in Victoria are at odds with the federal Coalition government, with Attorney-General George Brandis announcing sweeping changes to the Racial Discrimination Act last week, which many fear will weaken protections against hate speech and give licence to Holocaust deniers.
Opening an exhibition documenting the history of Sydney’s Chinese community last week, O’Farrell said bigotry should never be sanctioned, “whether intentionally or not”.
“In commendably seeking to protect freedom of speech, we must not lower our defences against the evil of racial and religious intolerance,” he said.
“No government, no organisation, no citizen can afford to be less than vigilant in combating bigotry, intolerance and hatred. Our way of life depends on it.”
And in Sydney on Tuesday, NSW Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello said the federal government’s proposed definition of racial vilification should be broadened while parts of Section 18D, which sets out the exemption for acts done reasonably and in good faith, should be kept.
Meanwhile, Napthine said Brandis’s proposed changes to racial discrimination laws could threaten Victoria’s proud multiculturalism.
Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Matthew Guy said freedom of speech must not come “at the expense of protections against acts of discrimination, hatred and vilification”.
“The right balance needs to be met to safeguard the rights of all members of our society,” he said.
He added the Victorian government will be making a submission to the federal government on the draft laws.
ECAJ executive director Peter Wertheim commended the stance of the two state governments.
“We welcome the statements by the Premiers of NSW and Victoria,” he said.
“The cultural diversity of Australia’s people is a great source of our nation’s strength. It also imposes an obligation on government to protect and encourage social cohesion.
“Failure to do so can have very serious, if not catastrophic, consequences for our society, the economy, law and order and security.”
GARETH NARUNSKY
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell says bigotry should never be sanctioned, “whether intentionally or not”.
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