MEDIA RELEASES

AIJAC statement on the announcement of a federal parliamentary inquiry into 18c

Nov 8, 2016 | Colin Rubenstein

AIJAC statement on the announcement of a federal parliamentary inquiry into 18c
Attorney General Sen. George Brandis QC

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today commented on the announcement by Attorney-General The Hon George Brandis QC of a parliamentary inquiry into freedom of speech, including sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and how the Australian Human Right Commission (the Commission) handles complaints.

AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said, “Section 18C plays an important role in supporting Australian multiculturalism, which is so intrinsic to the cohesion of our society. However, that is not to say that the section and the way it is administered can’t be improved. It has been in operation for over twenty years, and elements of the QUT case have shown that aspects of its application process can be problematic.

“We agree with comments by the Attorney-General in his press release announcing the inquiry that it is important to strike ‘the right balance between laws which protect social harmony and mutual respect, and the fundamental democratic value of freedom of speech.’ In striking that balance, it is important to give due weight to the right of all Australians to live free from vilification, to remember the many positive accomplishments of Section 18C in successfully resolving issues of discrimination in many cases, including Holocaust denial and other extreme forms of racism, and to remember that many other cases have been successfully resolved by conciliation.”

Dr Rubenstein added, “While there have been many claims that 18C unreasonably inhibits freedom of speech and expression, it is important not to ignore the exemptions in Section 18D, which protect statements and other expression made reasonably and in good faith, and to bear in mind that the courts have always read the words ‘offend’ and ‘insult’ in Section 18C together with the words ‘humiliate or intimidate’, and applied the test to a normal person of the claimant’s heritage, so mere offence or insult has never been sufficient to lead to a finding that the Section has been breached.”

“We trust that the inquiry will focus on ways to refine and improve this important legislation, and will not be dominated by the misguided ideologues who are determined to have it repealed,” he concluded.

 

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


L-R: Dr Michael Trainor, Sr Giovanni Farquer, Jeremy Jones

AIJAC congratulates Australian Catholics on “Powerful affirmation of friendship”

Mar 22, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Shutterstock 2026681823

AIJAC welcomes proposed Federal ban on Nazi symbols and salutes

Mar 22, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Image: Shutterstock

AIJAC welcomes additional Iran sanctions

Mar 21, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
FrfQGIYaIAAu39s

AIJAC backs “tough measures” against neo-Nazis

Mar 20, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Image: Twitter

AIJAC expresses dismay at lives lost, but strongly condemns violent rioting by settlers in Huwara

Feb 28, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Former ABC Jerusalem-based producer Fouad Abu Ghosh (Image: Nancy Rosenbaum/ Flickr)

AIJAC welcomes announcement controversial producer is no longer employed by ABC

Feb 15, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

Chinese diplomat Wang Yi (middle), Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (right), and Saudi Minister of State Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban announce the normlisation deal in Beijing on March 10 (Image: Xinhua)

What’s behind the Riyadh-Teheran reconciliation?

Mohammed El-Kurd (Image: Twitter)

The Last Word: Adelaide Writers’ Week’s “Truths”

Israel's national youth football team (Image: Asi Kipper/ Israel Football Association)

Asia Watch: Playing by the rules

Screenshot from a video showing radical Israeli rioters torching Palestinian homes in the West Bank town of Huwara (Image: Twitter)

Scribblings: “Powerless victims”

Image: Shutterstock

Media Microscope: Writes and wrongs

Chinese diplomat Wang Yi (middle), Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (right), and Saudi Minister of State Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban announce the normlisation deal in Beijing on March 10 (Image: Xinhua)

What’s behind the Riyadh-Teheran reconciliation?

Mohammed El-Kurd (Image: Twitter)

The Last Word: Adelaide Writers’ Week’s “Truths”

Israel's national youth football team (Image: Asi Kipper/ Israel Football Association)

Asia Watch: Playing by the rules

Screenshot from a video showing radical Israeli rioters torching Palestinian homes in the West Bank town of Huwara (Image: Twitter)

Scribblings: “Powerless victims”

Image: Shutterstock

Media Microscope: Writes and wrongs

SORT BY TOPICS