Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate that the Greens, as we have consistently said over a long period of time, do not support any changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, and, consistent with that position, we will not be supporting any of the amendments that the government is moving to its own amendment bill that itself seeks to amend section 18C. In doing so, we will maintain absolute consistency in our view that there has been no case made by the government for a change to section 18C, none whatsoever, despite lengthy and at times acrimonious debate in this place and the broader Australian community. We have listened to multicultural Australia. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. They have asked us to support retaining section 18C precisely as it is currently worded. On that basis we will be opposing this amendment.