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Articles on Section 18C

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Paul Fletcher, Australia’s recently appointed minister for communications, cyber safety and the arts, says he wants to make the internet safe for everyone. Markus Spiske / unsplash

6 actions Australia’s government can take right now to target online racism

Racism online is hurtful and damaging. But it can also spill into the real world with deadly consequences – such as the Christchurch terrorism attack.
High-profile conservatives such as former PM Tony Abbott and commentator Alan Jones often complain that freedom of speech is being stifled, but the research does not support that view. AAP/David Moir

Why Australia’s anti-vilification laws matter

While some complaint that anti-discrimination laws stifle freedom of speech, there is good evidence that they make a more harmonious, safe and equal society.
Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday contacted leaders of the Jewish, Indigenous and Muslim communities, seeking to reassure them. Sam Mooy/AAP

Conservatives have captured Turnbull for culture war crusade

Malcolm Turnbull is now, it seems, wholly owned by the conservatives in the Liberal Party and their strident media allies. His capitulation to them over 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act has been as…
There is concern among some Liberals that the 18C issue will lose them votes in seats with large ethnic communities. Sam Mooy/AAP

Section 18C change appears doomed in Senate

Malcolm Turnbull has announced a watering down of the controversial Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Peter Dutton casts himself as championing freedom of speech. Dean Lewins/AAP

Free speech? It depends who you are, in Peter Dutton’s view

Peter Dutton has advised Alan Joyce and other business executives who have written to Malcolm Turnbull urging action on same-sex marriage to “stick to their knitting”. It’s advice some in the government…
The Human Rights Commission and its outgoing president Gillian Triggs have become high-profile and symbolic targets for conservatives. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Parliamentary inquiry sidesteps making recommendation on 18C

Malcolm Turnbull had hoped that throwing the controversial Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to a parliamentary inquiry would help resolve an issue that has become totemic for conservatives…
AAP/Reuters/The Conversation

2016, the year that was: Politics and Society

Brexit, Trump, terrorism, 18C, safe schools, the gay marriage plebiscite, a government with a wafer-thin majority and a fractious Senate: it has been quite a year in politics.
Section 18C goes further than the laws of many other democracies by applying to ‘offensive’ and ‘insulting’ speech. AAP/Lukas Coch

We should follow other countries’ lead on hate speech by changing 18C

A minor change, substituting ‘vilify’ for ‘offend’ and ‘insult’, would bring Section 18C more in line with similar laws in other democracies without undermining its effectiveness.

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