Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Senate is debating whether Australians should agree with Senator Brandis's claim that there is a right to be a bigot. Weakening the Racial Discrimination Act is an attack on modern multicultural Australia. Racism is not 'just words'. People who are insulted, offended, and humiliated by racist hate speech know that racism cuts much deeper than that.

I understand that members will come to this parliament with a genuine commitment to freedom of speech. I will never understand how anyone decides the person who most needs their help is the racist bigot who they believe should be allowed to say more. And be in no doubt: the government want them to say more. If the government claim this is about freedom of speech then it must mean more will be said. The law they are changing is the law which protects people from racist insults, offence and humiliation when they are at the shops, at a sporting event or on public transport. What is it they want people to be allowed to say? The government refuse to answer this question because the answer is a form of racist hate speech. People expect this from One Nation; they expected better from the Turnbull government.

I encourage everyone who believes in respect, in multicultural Australia and in maintaining the protections of the Racial Discrimination Act to make their voices heard. Talk on community radio, publish in community newspapers, post on social media and join us on Friday afternoon in Lakemba for the Walk for Respect to celebrate modern multicultural Australia.