Racial Discrimination Act modifications obtained insufficient approval based on New Nielsen Poll.
“Federal Government should regard public emotion and throw revisions to racial discrimination laws”
The Race Discrimination Commissioner.
The Nielsen Company, a leading global information and measurement company, has found 88 per cent of respondents believed it should be unlawful to offend, insult or humiliate based on race as published in Fairfax newspapers.
The Government wants to boost the sanction on wrongdoing, abuse and degradation and craft a new defense against disparagement.
According to Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane there is nothing erroneous with the recent laws.
“I think there’s a resounding statement here of Australia’s racial tolerance,” he said.
“People see no need to change laws that have been in place for almost 20 years laws which have worked well.
“It’s important that we have laws that reflect our commitment to values of civility, decency and racial tolerance, and that’s what we’re seeing through this poll today.”
Over 200 groups, comprising multicultural and ethnic communities, have spoken their distress to the Australian Human Rights Commission about the suggested modifications.
Attorney-General George Brandis released the projected variations a day later he told Parliament last month that people “do have a right to be bigots”.
Mr Soutphommasane says no major noise or probe was delivered by the Government preceding the release of the draft alterations.
He says the only intention given was the circumstance contiguous with the columnist Andrew Bolt.
“I have no doubt people are very concerned about the fact these proposed changes have been justified in terms of expanding the right people have to be bigots,” Mr Soutphommasane said.
“Any right to be a bigot should not outweigh the right everyone should enjoy to be free from the effects of bigotry.”
Source: www.abc.net.au
