Lisa Singh Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General
2:45 pm
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. On Friday, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, FECCA, gave evidence to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee's inquiry into the government's Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2017. Does the minister agree with the chairman of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, Joseph Caputo OAM, who says, 'the proposed changes send a strong signal that racism is acceptable'?
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Well, if that is what the gentleman said, I entirely disagree with it. In fact, I think it sends a very strong signal that racism is unacceptable that we are strengthening this law.
Lisa Singh Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General
2:46 pm
It has been reported that government members of that committee refused to allow the Aboriginal Legal Service to give evidence on watering down section 18C, to that same inquiry. Does the minister support that decision?
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Senator, I am not aware of that. I know that the inquiry was time-limited; as to the way in which was conducted, I was not there, I was not watching it, and I am not in a position to comment on the way in which the proceedings transpired.
Lisa Singh Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General
Why is the government ignoring the concerns of multicultural Australia and Indigenous Australians, and weakening protections from racism—just to satisfy ideologues on its backbench and One Nation?
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
2:47 pm
We are strengthening protections against racism by introducing as a new species of prohibited conduct the concept of racial harassment. As you have heard me say before, Senator Singh: what kind of anti-racial-discrimination statute is there that omits to mention racial harassment as one of the prohibited species of conduct?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
What sort of attorney-general defends the rights of the bigots?
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Senator Singh, I am trying to address you but I cannot hear myself speak through the yelling of Senator Wong.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
I will repeat it so it is on the record: what sort of attorney defends the rights of the bigots?
Stephen Parry President
There is no point of order, Senator Wong. That is not a point of order.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Any attorney worthy of the name defends the rights of all Australians under the law. Senator Singh, what sort of anti-racism statute omits reference to racial harassment? And yet the Racial Discrimination Act by section 18C fails to do that. So what we are doing is we are strengthening the Racial Discrimination Act while at the same time removing from it its anti-free-speech provisions.