THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND
MULTICULTURALISM
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR
COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY
MEDIA RELEASE
BRANDIS’ BRANCH BACKS ANTI-RACE HATE REPEAL
George Brandis' own State branch has called on the Abbott Government to repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and give the green light to racist hate speech.
The Queensland LNP State Council yesterday passed a resolution calling for the important protections to be repealed.
It shows that the desire to weaken race hate protections and bring back the right to be a bigot is in the Coalitions DNA.
Now, more than ever, we need community harmony we all have a responsibility to promote inclusiveness and respect.
The backdown on changes to 18C was forced on Tony Abbott. He said these changes had become a complication we just don't need. The Coalition has made no case for the repeal of these important provisions which have served Australia well for 20 years.
We remain greatly concerned that the Abbott Government cannot be trusted not to tamper with protections against racial discrimination they've tried it once and they'll try it again.
Labor will fight any move to weaken protections against racist hate speech and the Abbott Government must rule out any support for changes to Section 18C.
MONDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2014
