Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Goldstein residents regularly contact me about the importance of free speech. My commitment is deep and unflinching.

Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Then why did you gag the debate, Freedom Boy?

Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Perhaps that is why the opposition thinks they are clever in attempts to offend, insult or denigrate me by using the nickname 'Freedom Boy' when I speak in this chamber. To the opposition, I say: feel free. It is a badge I wear with pride. Today, I publicly restate my commitment to free speech, because some of us never lost the faith. I understand that free speech central to people's sense of security in society.

Under federal law, we now have the Bolt case, the QUT case, the ridiculous case brought by Senator Leyonhjelm and the Bill Leak case, as well as a case against Archbishop Porteus under Tasmania's similar law. In light of these cases, the Australian Human Rights Commission said they would be open to suggestions for reform. I welcome that opportunity. We can design a law that stops harassment and intimidation to protect vulnerable people while also removing this culture of censorship.

This debate exposes Labor. Left to pursue their own devices, they will ideologically pursue laws to decide what Australians can think, what they can hear and what they can say, and that is at the expense of our time-honoured freedoms. Labor once defended our culture; today they mock it. As a Liberal, I will proudly defend the Australian way of life against their cultural relativism. So je suis Charlie, but also je suis QUT students, Bolt, Leyonhjelm, Leak, Porteus and anyone else who— (Time expired)