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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that the Prime Minister's colleagues are seeking to water down protections against race hate speech. Will the Prime Minister rule out making changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act? If not, what exactly does the government want people to be able to say that they are not allowed to say now?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left! The member for Newcastle is now warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It took 34 minutes for the Leader of the Opposition to lose interest in penalty rates as a subject. He has jumped around a bit. Now he is wandering through the thicket of policy issues. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has written a very good report on the subject of the Racial Discrimination Act, and the government is considering its recommendations.