Leeser encourages all communities to play a part in the 18C inquiry
Following a plea to delegates at The Executive Council of Australian Jewry annual conference Julian Leeser MP federal Member for Berowra has encouraged all community groups to take an active part in the current Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into freedom of speech and the Racial Discrimination Act.
Julian Leeser speaking at the ECAJ conference Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
“This is an issue of great importance to many community groups and one in which they have taken an active interest over recent months”, Mr Leeser said. “Several community organisations have spoken to me about the strong views they hold on the importance of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and the way it is applied in law”.
The Parliamentary Inquiry was announced on 8 November 2016. The Attorney-General asked the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights to inquire and report on two issues relating to freedom of speech in Australia. Firstly, whether the operation of Part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (including ss. 18C and 18D) impose unreasonable restrictions on freedom of speech, and secondly, whether the complaints-handling procedures of the Australian Human Rights Commission should be reformed.
Mr Leeser called on community groups to share their views with to the Human Rights Committee through the inquiry process. “As a member of the committee, I believe it is important that we receive and consider the full range of views on this issue. I strongly encourage community members and their representatives to provide submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry before submissions close on 9 December 2016.”
Submissions close on 9 December 2016. They can be lodged online at www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Human_Rights_inquiries/FreedomspeechAustralia, by emailing [email protected] or through the post by writing to:
This whole debate is nonsense. These ultra-conservative crusaders of free speech are only interested in being free to be racist. That’s why they want section 18C to be repealed.