Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I can assure her that my government—and, I believe, all Australians—are absolutely opposed to racism in any form. The suggestion that those people who support a change to the wording of section 18C are somehow or other racists is a deeply offensive one. Among the people who have called for its reform are Warren Mundine, Justice Ronald Sackville, and Professor Sarah Joseph from the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, who questions whether the section in its current form is actually consistent with our international human rights obligations to protect freedom of speech. In fact, Professor Joseph said that what may save it from being in breach of our international obligations to protect free speech is the narrow interpretation that the High Court has put on it, which I quoted earlier. But surely it is better for the language of the statute to be clear, and the object has always been as it is in the honourable member's state, where there is legislation to prohibit racial harassment, and that has been well considered by the courts on many occasions.

Mr Khalil interjecting—

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