Taking “sedition” out of the law
An independent review of federal sedition laws has found that the term ‘sedition’ should be removed. The Australian Law Reform Commission has released its discussion paper on the federal sedition laws and they make twenty-five proposals for reform. These proposals focus on shifting the law away from mere criticism of governmental authority to the intended urging of violence and incitement for that violence to occur. The Commission also proposes inserting a clause that protects artists, community groups and journalists, engaged in community debate from being subject to the laws. That should alleviate concerns raised after the introduction of the laws last year that they constrain freedom of speech. Stephanie Raison was at the release of the report at the Australian Law Reform Commissions Sydney office where Commission President Professor David Wisebrot outlined their proposals.