George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

No, I do not, Senator, and I welcome that contribution to the debate, but I think you are being hysterical, Senator Dastyari. I think you are being hysterical—charmingly hysterical, but hysterical nevertheless. The fact is that I doubt very much if any of the 358 members of the Ethnic Communities' Council would be of the view that there should not be a prohibition against racial harassment in the Racial Discrimination Act. I doubt very much if any of them would oppose the government's intention to introduce for the first time into the Racial Discrimination Act a prohibition against racial harassment. Nor do I believe any of them would oppose the government's commitment to freedom of speech. These are not inconsistent values, Senator Dastyari. We can have a good, strong and effective anti-racial-vilification law—

Senator Dastyari interjecting—