MARK DREYFUS MP

I welcome the Abbott Government's long-overdue announcement that it has abandoned its recklessly misguided proposal to repeal federal protections against racial hate speech.

The Abbott Government's decision to appoint Tim Wilson as a Human Rights Commissioner has come at the expense of Australia's first full time Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM

Labor welcomes the announcement that Orchestra Victoria will become a wholly owned subsidiary of The Australian Ballet.

George Brandis's first Budget as Attorney-General has shown his twisted priorities as Australia's First Law Officer by continuing to cut funding to legal assistance services.

The worst fears of the arts community have been confirmed in last night's Budget, as more than $100 million has been slashed from the Arts budget.

The Abbott Government has ripped over $10 million in funding out of privacy and freedom of information services, and abolished the Office of the Information Commissioner.

The Abbott Government has allowed the position of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor fall vacant, before their legislation to scrap the position has even been debated in the Parliament.

Labor has called on the Government to support Senator Lisa Singh's Private Senator's Bill if they are serious about preventing identity crime.

Today is final day of the Abbott Government's consultation period for their proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.

Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC and Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism Michelle Rowland last night addressed a community forum in Bankstown, hosted by the Member for Blaxland Jason Clare, to discuss the Abbott Government's proposed changes to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.