Potential changes to race hate laws are set to be the next explosive issue for the Turnbull government after the Prime Minister confirmed his cabinet is considering ways to water down section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Section 18C makes it an offence to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or group on the basis of race or ethnicity.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said section 18C provides important protections and reviving the conversation about change may lead to intolerance and disharmony across Australia’s diverse communities.
But it has strong support from coalition conservatives who are lobbying for a parliamentary inquiry into the issue.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told ABC Radio this morning: “I think there is considerable merit in that.”
It’s a sharp turnaround from his take on the issue back in August when he told parliament his government had no plans to change 18C because there were far more important priorities to deal with.
“It's very important that any change in this area has strong public support and consensus because we are dealing with matters of great sensitivity,” Mr Turnbull said.
Liberal Senator Zed Seselja said he believes changes to the Racial Discrimination Act would not impact multiculturalism in Australia.
He told reporters in Canberra: “I don't think that necessarily the fine detail of legislation like the Racial Discrimination Act has been critical to our great success.”
The opposition has accused Malcolm Turnbull of buckling to the conservative right of his party on yet another issue.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told parliament: “The Prime Minister is willing to trade race hate protections to protect himself from his backbench.”
The issue is set to be a key focus for the government tomorrow when coalition MPs come face-to-face at a party room meeting in Canberra.
Support for change is building following the decision of Brisbane’s Federal Court to throw out a racial hatred case against three Queensland University of Technology students on Friday.
It ruled the students had no case to answer in response to a $250,000 compensation claim by an Indigenous staffer over comments made back in May 2013.
Tony Abbott tried to repeal section 18C as prime minister, but backed off following a fierce backlash from migrant community groups.
In a statement, FECCA said thousands of community members and their organisations expressed fear that the proposed repeal of 18C would strip protection from the most marginalised members of society and threaten social cohesion in Australia.
