THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
Brisbane Says No To Changes To 18C
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC last night attended a community forum in Brisbane with the Member for Moreton Graham Perrett and the Member for Griffith Terri Butler to discuss the Abbott Government's proposed changes to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
The meeting took place in Tarragindi, where the community members discussed the Government's changes and heard from guest speaker Les Malezer, from the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples.
The Brisbane residents who attended our meeting overwhelmingly oppose these changes, Mr Dreyfus said.
At all the public forums Labor has held since Senator Brandis announced his proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, we have received the clear message that Australians do not want the current protections against racial vilification watered down.
"It saddens me that racism exists in Australia today. We need these laws to encourage harmony within society, and for the Abbott Government to make changes that allow people to be bigots sends the wrong message to our multicultural communities." Graham Perrett said.
These sections of the Racial Discrimination Act have served Australians well for almost 20 years. Terri Butler said.
The Abbott Government should be focusing on jobs, health and education, not spending time stripping away peoples rights not to be subjected to hate speech.
This is yet another example of the Abbott government's twisted priorities, she said.
Having only given Australians five weeks for public consultation on the Government's replacement sections, individuals, ethnic and community groups from across the country have spoken out against the proposed changes, Mr Dreyfus said.
Tony Abbott and Senator Brandis need to abandon their plan to give the green light to bigotry and hate speech.
The time has come for Senator Brandis to admit his mistake and listen to the near unanimous condemnation of his ineptly drafted changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Submissions to the Government on the proposed changes can be sent to [email protected] before 30 April.
