FABC News
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.
The FABC is a proud supporter of this project which was a video snapshot of Buddhism in Australia. Please click here to watch video interviews of some of the major Buddhist personalities of Australia. These videos were conducted by Deakin University. Project by Dr Anna Halafoff, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and project co-workers Edwin and Praveena. Camera & Editing by Freeman Trebilcock.
Tuesday the 9th of August 2016 is Census night in Australia. The Census provides a snapshot of the nation at that point in time. It collects vital information on the social, economic and housing characteristics of everyone in Australia.
It is important for all Buddhists that we tick the right box under religious affiliation rather than the “no religion” box. The benefits we receive from the government in terms of funding etc. will ultimately depend on our numbers. If we can still continue as the largest minority religion, we will be more likely to be heard by the government.
The website to go to for details is as follows;
www.census.abs.gov.au and the phone number to call is 1300 214 531 (toll free).
Please see below for a link to how-to videos in languages such as English, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CensusAustralia/videos