Australia should try harder to protect and respect human rights, says Commissioner
Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Gillian Triggs, says Australian needs to try harder to find a way to protect and respect all human rights and freedoms in our multicultural society in a way that protects social cohesion and inclusion of all. In an address to the National Press Club today, titled ‘The freedom wars and the future of human rights in Australia’ the Commissioner said we need to avoid polarisation and politicisation oh human rights and bridge the gap between the right to freedom of expression and the right to be free from racial abuse.
One of the particular concerns raised by the Commissioner was the federal government’s intention to amend section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, and change the definition of the term ‘vilify’.