Race Hate Bill Gets Green Light
Source: The Australian Herlad Sun | June 6, 2001
Race Hate Bill Gets Green Light
By FAY BURSTIN
RACIST or religious taunts, symbols and protests intended to hurt are to be outlawed in Victoria after the Opposition yesterday agreed to pass the Government’s race hate Bill.
But debate over the controversial Bill will be intense after the Liberal Party agreed to offer its members a rare conscience vote and the National Party and two independents signalled their opposition.
Liberal backbencher Inga Peulich, whose family has suffered under fascist and communist regimes, said she would use her free vote to reject the Bill on the grounds of freedom of speech.
The Bentleigh MP said she feared criminal sanctions would apply to private discussions in homes and did not believe a secular tribunal was the proper forum to judge religious issues.
“I have family members who have been victims of both concentration camps and Left-wing dictatorships,” she said.
“I think it’s very important to try to maintain the multicultural harmony in Victoria but there is no doubt that both Left and Right-wing extremists will try to use this as a way of scoring points against one another.”
Yesterday’s passionate Liberal Party room debate between freedom of speech and the need to protect the rights of individuals and minorities prompted Denis Napthine to declare it one of his proudest days as Liberal leader.
He said the shadow cabinet had agreed to support the Bill with a few amendments including protecting employers from racist slurs by workers.
But Government spokesman Phil Reed said the Bill’s standard for employer liability was the same as that used in current workplace sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying laws.
The Bill provides maximum criminal penalties of six months’ jail or a $6000 fine for the most serious cases of intentional racial or religious hatred.
It also sets up a civil process in a tribunal to resolve race or religion-based conflict.
Premier Steve Bracks said the Bill would bring Victoria into line with anti-racist laws enacted by all other Australian states and the Commonwealth.
National Party leader Peter Ryan said he did not believe Victoria’s harmonious multicultural community needed anti-racist laws and likened the Bill to a sledgehammer used to crack a nut.
He said he feared the Bill’s exemptions, including allowing for artistic freedom of expression, could have the opposite effect and actually incite racial vilification.
He said artworks protected under the Bill, such as the controversial Piss Christ photograph, which was damaged during an exhibition at the Victorian National Gallery by Christian youths, could further divide the community.
“Of course I don’t support racist jokes . . . but freedom of speech and robust discussion are something to be encouraged,” Mr Ryan said.
© 2001 Herald and Weekly Times
