THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
ACTING SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURALISM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
TURNBULL'S RIGHT HAND MAN A FIERCE ADVOCATE OF WEAKENING HATE SPEECH PROTECTIONS
Malcolm Turnbull's decision to appoint Senator James McGrath as his Assistant Minister shows a lack of judgement and will greatly concern Australia's diverse migrant communities who oppose weakening Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Speaking at the Australian Liberal Students Federation in August last year, Senator McGrath said:
I announce tonight that I'm going to cross the floor to support Senator Bob Day's bill on free speech
ALSF 16 August 2014
Despite Senator McGrath's ideological obsession, communities around Australia have made their views clear. Section 18C has served Australians well for almost 20 years and should not be watered down.
Malcolm Turnbull should join with Labor and rule out any changes to Section 18C and Senator McGrath should rule out supporting this divisive legislation.
At a time when recent findings from the Scanlon Foundation reveal worrying trends in our migrant communities - including increased levels of discrimination and a reduced sense of belonging - this Prime Minister should show the leadership his predecessor wouldn't and it begins with pulling his new Assistant Minister into line.
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2015
