An open letter to Malcolm Turnbull on 18C

Josie Lacey has sent a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in her capacity as convenor of Religions for Peace in NSW. Read more

18C: still no answer…writes Tony Burke

Parents started to keep their children inside the house, and would personally escort them to school. Adults would avoid leaving the home alone unless they absolutely had to. A woman who used to ride to her evening classes stopped going altogether, because she couldn’t face the insults hurled at her as she cycled. Read more

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. Read more

Shadow Attorney-General Dreyfus on 18C

The Abbott government’s botched attempt in 2014 to repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act – the law that has drawn a line against racial abuse, Holocaust denial and harmful hate speech for more than 20 years was one of its biggest failures…writes Mark Dreyfus. Read more

Changes to section 18C

The Turnbull Liberal Government wants to change section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to weaken protections against racist hate speech…writes Bill Shorten. Read more

Ten ethnic communities release a statement on 18C

Ten leaders of ethnic communities throughout Australia have released a joint statement in the wake of the Federal government’s announcement of a “Parliamentary Inquiry into Freedom of Speech” in the context of the Racial Discrimination Act. Read more

Parliamentary Inquiry into Freedom of Office: ECAJ

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has issued a statement following the Federal government’s announcement of a Parliamentary Inquiry into Freedom of Speech to look at two issues of freedom of speech in the context of the Racial Discrimination Act. Read more

18C and Australia multiculturalism

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has commenter on the announcement by Attorney-General 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.  Read more