Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

A plague of political correctness seems to be sweeping this country, seeking to push out of the public arena those who the ruling elites do not agree with. When in opposition, those who are now in government spoke powerfully about the need to halt the growing threats to free speech. However, in office they seem to have gone a bit quiet. Yes, the Human Rights Commission is reviewing rights and responsibilities. It is focusing on religious freedom; that begins next month. However, the central and specific commitment to reform section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was abandoned until senators Leyonhjelm, Smith, Bernardi and I picked it up again. I look forward to further debate on this tomorrow.

Language is very powerful. The framing of these debates is powerful. Opponents of free speech like to talk about 'hate speech'. They say that certain things should be censored because they might offend or insult someone. Simply calling words 'hate speech' is an affront to free speech. Here's the uncomfortable truth for those who hate free speech: those who you call 'bigot' will not call you a bigot back because, in so many cases, they are too decent and respectful to do so. They are people who know that two wrongs do not make a right. Civility needs to be restored to this debate.

If only that were the only problem. There is another more sinister problem: the use of laws to prosecute those upholding their beliefs or indeed beliefs held by the organisations they represent. Take the case of Archbishop Porteous of Hobart. The persecution of Catholic Archbishop Porteous of Hobart is a black mark on Australian history and free speech. How on earth can a man of the cloth, explaining to his congregation his church's teaching on marriage, be accused of inciting hatred towards those who want gay marriage? The older generation are shaking their heads in disbelief at how out of kilter this is with their Australia. You have to wonder whether this is the Australia our forebears shed blood, sweat and tears to create.

How strange that I should be accused of:

… channelling the quaint bigotry of a softly spoken vicar as opposed to the thuggish menace of skinheads.