MEMBER for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet has likened the federal government’s racial vilification laws to a dictatorship trying to rule its people by controlling speech.
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Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is a controversial one, with many right wing figures saying it restricts free speech, while on the left, they believe it is crucial to stop verbal abuse because of race.
The section says it is against the law for someone to “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate” another person based upon their race.
The words offend and insult are at the nub of the issue, with some, including Mr Perrottet, feeling they are too broad and restrict free speech.
Mr Perrottet said the laws would be more at home in North Korea than Australia.
“We live in one of the freest, most open and most tolerant countries in the world,” he said.
“The fact we are now looking to prosecute cartoonists under the 18C provision show this is more suited to North Korea, not modern Australia.
“As a Liberal, I will always support free speech and I reject any and all attempts by the political Left to shut down voices they don't agree with.”