Step 2 Remove Discrimination laws Protecting minorities

A private members bill to amend section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act will be introduced into the Upper House today, co-sponsored by Family First Senator Bob Day, the Liberal Democrats’ David Leyonhjelm and Coalition backbencher Cory Bernardi.

It seeks to remove the words “offend” and “insult” from the Act, as was initially pledged by the Abbott government.
The Prime Minister made a “leadership call” and abandoned the promise in August while announcing beefed up counter-terror laws, arguing it had become a “complication”.

Now Senator Day has taken up the push, insisting the situation has changed.

“When the Muslim community didn’t come on board with his Team Australia project, I would have thought all bets are off and they can go back to square one and continue with the proposal for section 18C,” he told ABC Radio this morning.

He conceded the area of reform is not really his “thing”, but he felt compelled to “help out”.

“I don’t want there to be any silencing of debate,” he said.

Later Senator Day revealed Liberal Senator Dean Smith had also agreed to co-sponsor the bill.