Section 18C: Another nail in the coffin?

BYPAWAN LUTHRA

provision winalso be inducled saying d1c test co be applied indeciding whether ISC hasbeen breached,is theobjcc□\'e standard of ''the reasonable member of d1e Australian commmury" or the pub rest.

whowaswellsupportedby1.he multiculturalcommunitiesarthe Inst election,ba.sallowedhimself to beheld hostagebyfringeckmencsin hisparcy, advocatingTrump-type policies.

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Waleed Aly,Gold Logie winner and one of the few multiculrural commenramrson

Australian television, oncesaidLhat1.here isa highlevelof low levelsof racism in Australia.

Theproposedchanges co ScCLion ISCof the Racial Discrirninarion Act could now changethis to a high level of high levelsof racism.These proposed changes,announcedon Harmony Day and iustdaysaftert.he government released a report onthe achievemencs of multiculturalism in Australia,do ha\·e the pocential comake iteasier for people co beracistinpublic.

For those whodon'tknow •and there arcmany whodon't•Section ISC sa)'Sit is unlawful fora personrooffend,insult, humiliateorintimidateanotherpersonor agroup of peoplebecauseof the race, colour or nationalor ethnic origin of the other person orof someorall of the people in rhe group. Under the proposal, the word"harass"will replace d1e words '·offend", "insult",and"humiliare". J\

Itisimporramtonotetharracism notonly disadvantage..� peopleoverdy, for exampledcn)�ngpromotion inthe workplace conre:.xrorrejectionasa potentinltenamofnresidentialproperty, butcan alsomanifestin od1erwa)"S and causeochersortsof harm. Racist commemscan leadtohurt andanger. fear and panmoia.Therecan be.:amoredirect impactonmigrantsasircanexposethem Lo ridicule nbout theirclochesaodculture.

Section ISCin itscurrent format hasworkedwell forthe20-oddyearsit hasbeen in place. Yes,there havebeen procedural issuesaroundtheedgeswhere trivialcomplaintshavecomethroughor d1ctimelinebetweentheoffenceand legalactionhasbeenlong.Burlargely,it hasbeen ashieldprovidedb)theSrncc forthosemostvulnerable.Those who mayhavelessknowledge of rhc S)'Stem and understanding of their rightsunder thelaw,havebeenthemosrexposed.This verrprotection forthe lndigenousand migrantcommunitiesseemsto be being rnken awarbythe white,male,middleaged sub-sectionof societywhohold the reins ofpower in Canberra.

Whatashamethata Primi:Minister, lfnnyrepeal of Section ISC isco allow for more speech•given i1 is becoming a cenct of the Liberal Parry toallowfor morelaisse faire policies•chcn wouldit be a matter of time d,at d1eright co bear armsbecomes allowed in Australialike it isin the US?

The /11tli1111U11ksurveyin rhisissue indicatesthat d,ereneedsto be alotof talkingbytbeLiberalside of policies totheir multicukural electoratesshould they wishtominimiseanybacklash.The sLxscarsmost at risk for diem include Reid (CraigLaundy), Bcnnelong Qohn Alexander), Banks (David Coleman), Chisholm Qulia Banks),Deakin (ll•lichacJ Sukkar) and Brisbane (revor E1rans). Witha one-seat leadinthecurrent Parliament,theoddsareverymuchagainst rheCoalition:howcanthey disregardthe Aow-oneffectsof thenew ISC within Lhe multiculmralvmebank?Changesto !SC maybeanattemptbythe Llberal-Narional parries ro close the gap withOneNation anc.lLheirpolicies-buratwhatcost?

The CoaliLion's track recordon ilisues of samesexmarriage andclimate change hasbeen condemned byn-ianr;changes to Section ISCmight well rurn our to be anothernail in tht:coffin for them.

Indian Link

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