THERE is growing disquiet among some sections of the populace that so-called “political correctness” is eroding citizens’ inalienable rights to freedom of speech.
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These people bemoan, on social media, talk back radio and in letters to the editor, the growing pressure to eradicate racially and ethnically charged language.
They argue that the principle of freedom of speech gives them every right to offend, insult, humiliate and intimidate someone based on their race, colour or national or ethnic origin.
It doesn’t, of course. At least, not yet.
However, if the Coalition under Malcolm Turnbull succeeds in rewriting section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, the words “offend” and “insult” will be removed and replaced with the word “harass”.
Essentially, that means it will be illegal to harass, humiliate and intimidate – but legal to offend and insult – a person or group of people based on the colour of their skin.
How could anyone possibly consider this step progress?
There is not a topic in the world that cannot be discussed and debated intelligently and respectfully within the confines of the existing laws regarding racial vilification.
As Labor leader Bill Shorten said in parliament recently: “What insult do they want people to be able to say that they cannot say now?”
Many of the most vocal supporters of watering down the provisions of section 18C, such as some conservative politicians and commentators, are those who revel in the notoriety of offending and insulting minority groups.
Bereft of intelligence or decency or both, these people resort to deliberately inflammatory language and then shield themselves with the “freedom of speech” argument when the backlash comes.
But freedom of speech had its limitations in Australia long before either the Racial Discrimination Act was passed or the term “political correctness” was coined.
There is no “right to be racist” clause written into the Australian constitution, as much as some would like it to be.
Section 18C, as it is currently written and interpreted by the courts, does not pose a threat to our liberal democracy.
Rather, it simply affords a measure of protection – a small measure at that – to those who are subjected to a loss of dignity as a result of racial vilification.
- Ross Tyson, deputy editor