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Labor accuses Coalition of changing stance on racial discrimination law Labor accuses Coalition of changing stance on racial discrimination law
(4 days later)
Labor has blasted Malcolm Turnbull for saying his position on the racial discrimination law “depends” on what changes are being proposed, and the party says it contradicts earlier assurances that changes are off the table.Labor has blasted Malcolm Turnbull for saying his position on the racial discrimination law “depends” on what changes are being proposed, and the party says it contradicts earlier assurances that changes are off the table.
On 3AW radio on Friday, Turnbull said changes to laws prohibiting insulting or offending people based on race were “not a priority” for the government.On 3AW radio on Friday, Turnbull said changes to laws prohibiting insulting or offending people based on race were “not a priority” for the government.
The prime minister said his position on the Racial Discrimination Act “depends [on] how you amend it”, implying he might be open to such changes, provided prohibitions on humiliating and intimidating others were retained.The prime minister said his position on the Racial Discrimination Act “depends [on] how you amend it”, implying he might be open to such changes, provided prohibitions on humiliating and intimidating others were retained.
The statement on 3AW radio on Friday came after a report that Turnbull expressed “general support” of the Family First senator Bob Day’s push to amend section 18C of the act.The statement on 3AW radio on Friday came after a report that Turnbull expressed “general support” of the Family First senator Bob Day’s push to amend section 18C of the act.
Day confirmed to Guardian Australia that Turnbull, after becoming prime minister in September, had expressed general support for the senator’s attempt to remove from the law prohibitions on offending or insulting others.Day confirmed to Guardian Australia that Turnbull, after becoming prime minister in September, had expressed general support for the senator’s attempt to remove from the law prohibitions on offending or insulting others.
“We agreed I would not try to bring the bill to a vote because the timing was not right and that I would reintroduce it in the new year [2016],” he said. It then became impractical to reintroduce it because of the early election and other complications.“We agreed I would not try to bring the bill to a vote because the timing was not right and that I would reintroduce it in the new year [2016],” he said. It then became impractical to reintroduce it because of the early election and other complications.
Day said Turnbull did not reveal whether he would give Coalition members a conscience vote on the issue, nor whether he had given assurances of support on the bill to conservatives before taking the leadership.Day said Turnbull did not reveal whether he would give Coalition members a conscience vote on the issue, nor whether he had given assurances of support on the bill to conservatives before taking the leadership.
Related: New bid to amend Racial Discrimination Act discussed with Turnbull, says Bob Day
On 3AW on Friday, Turnbull was asked about the report that he had expressed “general support” to Day and his position on the proposed changes.On 3AW on Friday, Turnbull was asked about the report that he had expressed “general support” to Day and his position on the proposed changes.
“It depends how you amend it,” he replied, before declining to elaborate and go through the “intricacies” of reform options.“It depends how you amend it,” he replied, before declining to elaborate and go through the “intricacies” of reform options.
“It’s an issue I’ve certainly looked at, and it was considered ... during Tony Abbott’s time as prime minister,” he said“It’s an issue I’ve certainly looked at, and it was considered ... during Tony Abbott’s time as prime minister,” he said
He acknowledged Abbott had said he regretted not changing the provision.He acknowledged Abbott had said he regretted not changing the provision.
“It is not a priority for us. Can I just emphasise this: we have a very extensive legislative program with the policies we took to the election.”“It is not a priority for us. Can I just emphasise this: we have a very extensive legislative program with the policies we took to the election.”
Turnbull listed Fair Work Act changes to protect the Country Fire Authority, passing bills to create two watchdogs for unions, passing the blocked budget measures, and holding a plebiscite on same-sex marriage as priorities.Turnbull listed Fair Work Act changes to protect the Country Fire Authority, passing bills to create two watchdogs for unions, passing the blocked budget measures, and holding a plebiscite on same-sex marriage as priorities.
“With all due respect to the very worthy arguments around it – it is not going to create an extra job, it is not going to ensure your listeners will get to work, or school, or get around their business any sooner, it’s not going to build an extra road.”“With all due respect to the very worthy arguments around it – it is not going to create an extra job, it is not going to ensure your listeners will get to work, or school, or get around their business any sooner, it’s not going to build an extra road.”
The shadow minister for multicultural Australia, Tony Burke, said Turnbull’s answer that his position “depends” on the proposed changes, contradicted earlier assurances from the attorney general, George Brandis, that changes were off the table.The shadow minister for multicultural Australia, Tony Burke, said Turnbull’s answer that his position “depends” on the proposed changes, contradicted earlier assurances from the attorney general, George Brandis, that changes were off the table.
Brandis told the ABC late last month: “In September 2014, the then prime minister Abbott made a decision to take reform of 18C off the table and that remains the government’s position.”Brandis told the ABC late last month: “In September 2014, the then prime minister Abbott made a decision to take reform of 18C off the table and that remains the government’s position.”
Last Monday, a spokesman for the prime minister said: “We have no plans to change the [Racial Discrimination] Act.”Last Monday, a spokesman for the prime minister said: “We have no plans to change the [Racial Discrimination] Act.”
Burke called on Turnbull to explain what the “worthy arguments” were to change the law and “what exactly he thinks people should be able to say that’s not permitted under the current legislation”.Burke called on Turnbull to explain what the “worthy arguments” were to change the law and “what exactly he thinks people should be able to say that’s not permitted under the current legislation”.
On Thursday, the Liberal senator Dean Smith said the Coalition party room view had moved on reform of the RDA.On Thursday, the Liberal senator Dean Smith said the Coalition party room view had moved on reform of the RDA.
Smith will co-sponsor a bill with his fellow Liberal Cory Bernardi and Senate crossbenchers David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day to remove the terms “insult” and “offend” from section 18C of the act.Smith will co-sponsor a bill with his fellow Liberal Cory Bernardi and Senate crossbenchers David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day to remove the terms “insult” and “offend” from section 18C of the act.
The former federal court judge Ronald Sackville has suggested that amendments to remove “offend”, “insult” and “humiliate”, and create an objective test for hate speech, would create a more defensible balance in the Racial Discrimination Act.The former federal court judge Ronald Sackville has suggested that amendments to remove “offend”, “insult” and “humiliate”, and create an objective test for hate speech, would create a more defensible balance in the Racial Discrimination Act.
Related: Liberal senator Dean Smith welcomes judge's opinion that 18C not 'fit for purpose'
Turnbull’s language on section 18C echoes an interview on Sky on Thursday in which the treasurer, Scott Morrison, said it “is not at the top of my list”.Turnbull’s language on section 18C echoes an interview on Sky on Thursday in which the treasurer, Scott Morrison, said it “is not at the top of my list”.
“It doesn’t help me reverse the deficit, it doesn’t help me repay the debt, it doesn’t help me get one more person in a job and it doesn’t lead to one extra company investing more in Australia,” he said.“It doesn’t help me reverse the deficit, it doesn’t help me repay the debt, it doesn’t help me get one more person in a job and it doesn’t lead to one extra company investing more in Australia,” he said.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) told Guardian Australia it had not seen or been consulted on the government’s proposed Fair Work Act changes.The Country Fire Authority (CFA) told Guardian Australia it had not seen or been consulted on the government’s proposed Fair Work Act changes.
“We will be interested to see the draft legislation when it becomes available,” it said.“We will be interested to see the draft legislation when it becomes available,” it said.
A spokesman for the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, told Guardian Australia “the legislation to amend the Fair Work Act to protect the CFA will be released prior to parliament resuming”, on August 30.A spokesman for the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, told Guardian Australia “the legislation to amend the Fair Work Act to protect the CFA will be released prior to parliament resuming”, on August 30.