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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/mar/21/malcolm-turnbull-bill-shorten-liberals-parliament-racial-discrimination-act-politics-live
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| Malcolm Turnbull says 18C language had 'lost credibility' - politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.59am GMT | |
| 01:59 | |
| George Brandis says they will introduce harassment to the Racial Discrimination Act. | |
| The HRC president will have to make a preliminary assessment on a complaint over its substance before it goes to formal inquiry. | |
| There will be a requirement that a complaint be lodged within six months of the conduct complained of and an obligation on the commission to use best endeavours to resolve complaints within 12 months of a complaint being filed. | |
| 1.55am GMT | |
| 01:55 | |
| Malcolm Turnbull: we are defending Australians from racial vilification with a stronger fairer law | |
| The prime minister is speaking now. | |
| We are defending Australians from racial vilification by replacing language which has lost credibility. It has lost the credibility that a good law needs and so the changes we are proposing to section 18C will provide the right balance between protecting Australians from racial vilification and defending and enabling their right of free speech, upon which our democracy, our way of life, depends. | |
| We are also amending the law so as to ensure that the huge rights commission will offer procedural fairness, will deal with cases promptly and swiftly and fairly, and that’s very important too. We need to restore confidence to the Racial Discrimination Act and to the Human Rights Commissions’s administration of it. | |
| 1.47am GMT | |
| 01:47 | |
| Labor’s Julie Collins has welcomed the appointment Julia Gillard as Chair of Beyondblue. | |
| Ms Gillard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Chair given the commitment she made to driving mental health reform during her time as Prime Minister. | |
| There is no doubt Ms Gillard will be a champion for people living with mental illness and her appointment as Chair will ensure the mental health of all Australians continues to be a national priority. | |
| 1.34am GMT | |
| 01:34 | |
| It should be underlined (or highlighted) that the legal definitions of “insult” and “offend” in 18C are different to the pub meanings. | |
| Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act: The legal meaning of "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" #Auspol pic.twitter.com/hR2XBUkXWI | |
| 1.28am GMT | |
| 01:28 | |
| Malcolm Turnbull and George Brandis have a press conference at 12.50pm. This will explain aforementioned 18C changes. | |
| We understand it is remove insult and offend, add harass, but that has not been confirmed anywhere by government. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.35am GMT | |
| 1.27am GMT | |
| 01:27 | |
| Meanwhile: | |
| The World Meteorological Organisation warns the record-breaking heat that made 2016 the hottest year ever recorded has continued into 2017, pushing the world into “truly uncharted territory”. | |
| 1.25am GMT | 1.25am GMT |
| 01:25 | 01:25 |
| Eric Abetz is cockahoop about the planned changes to 18C. | Eric Abetz is cockahoop about the planned changes to 18C. |
| He is reminding all the Johnny-come-latelys to free speech that he has been a long-time advocate of reforming section 18C. | He is reminding all the Johnny-come-latelys to free speech that he has been a long-time advocate of reforming section 18C. |
| Abetz says he advocated for change dating as far back as 2011 and announced in 2015 that he would cross the floor on the issue. | Abetz says he advocated for change dating as far back as 2011 and announced in 2015 that he would cross the floor on the issue. |
| These common-sense reforms will go a long way to ensuring that Australians can engage in free speech while maintaining protections against racially motivated harassment and intimidation.” | These common-sense reforms will go a long way to ensuring that Australians can engage in free speech while maintaining protections against racially motivated harassment and intimidation.” |
| I am also pleased that the Government will rein in the Australian Human Rights Commission which has morphed into self-appointed thought police.” | I am also pleased that the Government will rein in the Australian Human Rights Commission which has morphed into self-appointed thought police.” |
| 1.08am GMT | 1.08am GMT |
| 01:08 | 01:08 |
| OK more briefings from joint party room. | OK more briefings from joint party room. |
| According to another MP, Barnaby Joyce’s speech suggested that amending 18C was not a priority for the government. That sounds more like his public stance, that people are not raising this with him. | According to another MP, Barnaby Joyce’s speech suggested that amending 18C was not a priority for the government. That sounds more like his public stance, that people are not raising this with him. |
| Amongst the Libs, the debate consisted of those in more ethnically diverse seats raising concerns including: | Amongst the Libs, the debate consisted of those in more ethnically diverse seats raising concerns including: |
| David Coleman (Banks, NSW) | David Coleman (Banks, NSW) |
| Craig Laundy (Reid, NSW) | Craig Laundy (Reid, NSW) |
| Julian Leeser (Berowra, NSW) | Julian Leeser (Berowra, NSW) |
| Julia Banks (Chisholm, Victoria) | Julia Banks (Chisholm, Victoria) |
| And also Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Victoria) who is in a regional seat. | And also Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Victoria) who is in a regional seat. |
| 12.42am GMT | 12.42am GMT |
| 00:42 | 00:42 |
| Here is Homebush West public school in Liberal MP Craig Laundy’s seat of Reid, via the state member Labor member Jodi McKay. | Here is Homebush West public school in Liberal MP Craig Laundy’s seat of Reid, via the state member Labor member Jodi McKay. |
| Harmony Day at Homebush West Public School - I ❤️ my multicultural community. | Harmony Day at Homebush West Public School - I ❤️ my multicultural community. |
| A post shared by Jodi McKay MP (@jodimckaymp) on Mar 20, 2017 at 3:59pm PDT | A post shared by Jodi McKay MP (@jodimckaymp) on Mar 20, 2017 at 3:59pm PDT |
| 12.39am GMT | 12.39am GMT |
| 00:39 | 00:39 |
| 18C revolt sounds muted in Lib party room. MPs say "Usual suspects" Lesser Craig Laundy Coleman Alexander but otherwise strongly supported | 18C revolt sounds muted in Lib party room. MPs say "Usual suspects" Lesser Craig Laundy Coleman Alexander but otherwise strongly supported |
| 12.37am GMT | 12.37am GMT |
| 00:37 | 00:37 |
| If the Coalition has little chance of getting the 18C amendments through the Senate, this is all academic and the government will have to live with changes to Human Rights Commission process as the Liberal moderates have been saying all along. | If the Coalition has little chance of getting the 18C amendments through the Senate, this is all academic and the government will have to live with changes to Human Rights Commission process as the Liberal moderates have been saying all along. |
| In the meantime, as Joyce said, a fair proportion of voters will be mightily cranky about the debate. | In the meantime, as Joyce said, a fair proportion of voters will be mightily cranky about the debate. |
| An incredible strategy, if you think about it. | An incredible strategy, if you think about it. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.40am GMT | at 12.40am GMT |
| 12.17am GMT | 12.17am GMT |
| 00:17 | 00:17 |
| Senate numbers and 18C | Senate numbers and 18C |
| Let’s revise the Senate numbers again in the frame of the 18C debate. | Let’s revise the Senate numbers again in the frame of the 18C debate. |
| The Senate normally has 76 seats | The Senate normally has 76 seats |
| There are currently 75 due to the vacancy of Family First Bob Day. | There are currently 75 due to the vacancy of Family First Bob Day. |
| The majority required for legislation under those circumstances is 38. | The majority required for legislation under those circumstances is 38. |
| These are the numbers: | These are the numbers: |
| Coalition 29 | Coalition 29 |
| ALP 26 | ALP 26 |
| Greens 9 | Greens 9 |
| Pauline Hanson 4 (even though Cullen’s replacement Peter Georgiou is yet to sit, he is paired) | Pauline Hanson 4 (even though Cullen’s replacement Peter Georgiou is yet to sit, he is paired) |
| Nick Xenophon 3 | Nick Xenophon 3 |
| Jacqui Lambie | Jacqui Lambie |
| Derryn Hinch | Derryn Hinch |
| David Leyonhjelm | David Leyonhjelm |
| Cory Bernardi | Cory Bernardi |
| If Labor and the Greens oppose any legislation, the government needs both Hanson and Xenophon and two of the four single senators. | If Labor and the Greens oppose any legislation, the government needs both Hanson and Xenophon and two of the four single senators. |
| Xenophon has said many times that he might consider procedural changes to the Human Rights Commission so give that a try first. He told the ABC today: | Xenophon has said many times that he might consider procedural changes to the Human Rights Commission so give that a try first. He told the ABC today: |
| Let’s improve the processes. Let’s get rid of those frivolous and some would say vexatious claims by improving the process and then we can then look down the track, if there are still problems in respect of the wording. | Let’s improve the processes. Let’s get rid of those frivolous and some would say vexatious claims by improving the process and then we can then look down the track, if there are still problems in respect of the wording. |
| But there is strong feedback from communities, from a whole range of ethnic communities, from the Jewish communities, Islamic communities around the country are saying “keep it as it is”. But reforming the process seems to be the priority. | But there is strong feedback from communities, from a whole range of ethnic communities, from the Jewish communities, Islamic communities around the country are saying “keep it as it is”. But reforming the process seems to be the priority. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.46am GMT | at 12.46am GMT |
| 11.55pm GMT | 11.55pm GMT |
| 23:55 | 23:55 |
| So the National party are pulling up the Liberal party on race issues. This is no mean feat for Barnaby Joyce, given the threat the National party faces from One Nation in rural and regional areas. As Liberal conservatives have been pointing their spears in recent weeks, Joyce has been reminding all and sundry that this is not the stuff they are talking about in farm sheds in north Queensland. | So the National party are pulling up the Liberal party on race issues. This is no mean feat for Barnaby Joyce, given the threat the National party faces from One Nation in rural and regional areas. As Liberal conservatives have been pointing their spears in recent weeks, Joyce has been reminding all and sundry that this is not the stuff they are talking about in farm sheds in north Queensland. |
| 11.52pm GMT | 11.52pm GMT |
| 23:52 | 23:52 |
| Meanwhile deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has told the joint party room the move to amend 18C is really dumb and it will lose the Coalition votes. | Meanwhile deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has told the joint party room the move to amend 18C is really dumb and it will lose the Coalition votes. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.52pm GMT | at 11.52pm GMT |
| 11.50pm GMT | 11.50pm GMT |
| 23:50 | 23:50 |
| Remembering that Tony Abbott had dropped the changes, Abbott could not bring himself to give a fulsome congrats to Turnbull. He suggested circumstances had changed to essentially make it easier for Malcolm. | Remembering that Tony Abbott had dropped the changes, Abbott could not bring himself to give a fulsome congrats to Turnbull. He suggested circumstances had changed to essentially make it easier for Malcolm. |
| 11.47pm GMT | 11.47pm GMT |
| 23:47 | 23:47 |
| The Coalition party room meeting continues but I have confirmed Tony Abbott has congratulated Malcolm Turnbull for moving on amending 18C. | The Coalition party room meeting continues but I have confirmed Tony Abbott has congratulated Malcolm Turnbull for moving on amending 18C. |
| 11.42pm GMT | 11.42pm GMT |
| 23:42 | 23:42 |
| The Matt Hatter picks up on the broken promise point regarding 18C (no plans to change) and marriage plebiscite. | The Matt Hatter picks up on the broken promise point regarding 18C (no plans to change) and marriage plebiscite. |
| @gabriellechan 🗻Hi🌅 No parlt'y vote on gay marriage as the govt said it wouldn't, but 18c can be changed as the govt said it wouldn't. Goodo pic.twitter.com/ed65VE2XnO | @gabriellechan 🗻Hi🌅 No parlt'y vote on gay marriage as the govt said it wouldn't, but 18c can be changed as the govt said it wouldn't. Goodo pic.twitter.com/ed65VE2XnO |
| 11.40pm GMT | 11.40pm GMT |
| 23:40 | 23:40 |
| Guardian Essential’s latest survey has also found that 75% of Australians polled like a gas reservation policy. Katharine Murphy reports: | Guardian Essential’s latest survey has also found that 75% of Australians polled like a gas reservation policy. Katharine Murphy reports: |
| An overwhelming majority of voters would support the Turnbull government if it implemented a reservation policy where a percentage of Australian gas is held back from being exported and quarantined for domestic use. | An overwhelming majority of voters would support the Turnbull government if it implemented a reservation policy where a percentage of Australian gas is held back from being exported and quarantined for domestic use. |
| The latest Guardian Essential poll shows 75% of the survey supports a reservation policy, with the strongest support registered among Coalition voters. | The latest Guardian Essential poll shows 75% of the survey supports a reservation policy, with the strongest support registered among Coalition voters. |
| The federal resources and energy ministers have, until very recently, expressed public opposition to a reservation policy, but that opposition has softened in recent weeks as concerns have escalated about looming energy shortages because of insufficient supplies of gas. | The federal resources and energy ministers have, until very recently, expressed public opposition to a reservation policy, but that opposition has softened in recent weeks as concerns have escalated about looming energy shortages because of insufficient supplies of gas. |
| (You could have knocked me down with a feather.) | (You could have knocked me down with a feather.) |