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Insight: Apr 29

Jenny Brockie looks at the topic of Free Speech as the government prepares to remove provisions from the Racial Discrimination Act.

insight14This week on Insight Jenny Brockie looks at the topic of Free Speech as the government prepares to remove provisions from the Racial Discrimination Act.

When amateur comedian Kieran Butler organised a comedy debate called ‘There’s Nothing Funny About Rape’ a few years ago, it didn’t go to plan. Several people took offence and demanded the Melbourne venue cancel the event. Kieran says he received death threats.

Artist Sergio Redegalli says he has received violent threats as well. He paints “Say no to burqas” murals on the brick wall of his Sydney home. His wall is visible from a nearby train line. Sergio says he’s exercising his right to freedom of speech and artistic expression, but others say he’s vilifying minority groups.

With the Federal Government proposing to remove provisions which “unreasonably limit freedom of speech” from section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, Insight asks just how free our speech is – and how free should it be.

Host Jenny Brockie speaks to those who believe it’s better to get some views – however unpalatable – out in the open, alongside those who say they have experienced discrimination first-hand and think the Act should remain untouched.

Guests include:

Angelo D’Costa
Angelo D’Costa had barely been in the amateur comedy world 12 months when he came up with the idea for a comedy debate called “There’s nothing funny about rape”. He says he had no intention offend anyone. The debate, which was organised with only male participants, was cancelled following a strong opposition on social media and phone calls to the Melbourne venue. He says he would do things differently in hindsight.

Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson is Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner. He is a strong free speech advocate and describes himself as a classical liberal. He wants Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act repealed and says that the government’s proposed amendments are a good start. His views on the relationship between free speech and racial discrimination are at odds with those of his fellow AHRC Commissioner, Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane.

Natalie Elliot
Natalie Elliot calls herself a “brown-skinned lawyer and dancer who’s not afraid to speak her mind”. She says she experienced racism and sexism while growing up in Perth and recalls being told to go back to the country she came from. Despite her experiences, Natalie doesn’t think the law is the best way to combat hate speech. “There’s a difference between what is right and what you have a right to do,” she says.

Bindi Cole
Artist Bindi Cole is one of the nine people who took columnist Andrew Bolt to court in 2011 after he questioned their motives for identifying as Aboriginal. She says that while columnists including Bolt have every right to discuss this issue (indeed she does so herself in her own work), she felt insulted, humiliated and intimidated by the tone and factual errors in some of the articles.

Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett is a Jewish man who was verbally abused while walking his dog in a Melbourne park. He says he was called a “big fat Jewish slob” and told that “Hitler was right about you bastards”. Michael took the matter to court seeking an apology but was unsuccessful – the court found that the abuse had happened but that it did not amount to an incitement of hatred.

Tuesday at 8.30pm on SBS ONE.

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