Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Messing around with the Racial Discrimination Act is an ideological obsession for the Liberal Party. But the more they talk about it, the more it makes you wonder: what exactly do they want to be able to say? What humiliating vitriol do they think that the government of Australia should be encouraging?

We live in a marvellous multicultural nation, enlarged and enriched by generations of migrants from all around the world. We do not just tolerate diversity in Australia; we embrace it. That is not something we should sacrifice for an ideological agenda.

Weakening safeguards against hate speech will not create one single job. Giving a green light to racism will not solve the traffic jams in the great suburbs of Australia. Softening the Racial Discrimination Act will not help pensioners pay for their bills or put money back in the pockets of workers whose wages this government is standing by and allowing to be cut.

The debate over section 18C is a metaphor for the current government: totally divided; two camps at war with each other; no-one with the leadership or authority to make a decision and carry the day. The approach to 18C changes is classic Turnbull government: divided down the middle; two camps; and no-one in charge.

Well, the bipartisan committee has recommended no change to the law. The ball is now in the Prime Minister's court. He should rule out the right to be a bigot once and for all.