The FABC does not support Senator Cori Bernardi’s proposal to amend section18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.
18c relates only to race and not religion and should not be watered down to remove the words “insult or offend”. One has no choice in the color of his/her skin, race, ethnicity or origin and should be protected by the law against harmful or hurtful speech and not merely hate speech that is directed to race.
We are the view that section18c in its original form is a good law and should remain unamended. Whilst it prevents bigotry against race (something a person cannot change), it protects freedom of speech against unacceptable religious practices.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 - SECT 18C
Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin
(1) It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.