Newsletter date: 30 March 2014
Contents:
* Tracker: Bigotry is not OK: NSWALC [New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council]
* Deahnna Richardson, Newcastle Herald: Letter: We need to be free of bigotry
* National Indigenous Radio Service: Congress: Indigenous Australians biggest complainants of discrimination
* National Indigenous Radio Service: Mundine hopeful of changing Government's mind on anti-racism laws
* National Indigenous Radio Service: Soutphommasane: No reason to change the Racial Discrimination Act
* ABC News: Greens propose ACT law to bypass federal racial vilification changes
* Gabrielle Chan, The Guardian: George Brandis race law proposals draw Coalition criticism
* Pauline Vetuna, The Plebeian: Brandis' fight for the right to SPREAD FALSEHOODS to further bigoted agendas - S18C repeal
* Anne Lu, International Business Times: Holocaust Survivor Moshe Fiszman Begs Prime Minister Tony Abbott Not To Change Racial Discrimination Act
* Bishop Philip Huggins, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne: The Government's response to concerns is welcome
* Steven Lewis, The Australian: Proposed changes would dramatically weaken the Racial Discrimination Act
* Background: Opposition to proposed Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) changes
* TRACKER: BOGOTRY IS NOT OK: NSWALC [NEW SOUTH WALES ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL]
- News
Tracker: Bigotry is not OK: NSWALC
http://tracker.org.au/2014/03/bigotry-is-not-ok-nswalc/
27 Mar 14: "NATIONAL: The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council has joined the growing condemnation of the Federal Government’s moves to amend the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act. NSWALC Chairperson Craig Cromelin says Federal Attorney General, George Brandis, should be asked to withdraw his claim people "have the right to be bigots," when seeking to defend the government’s position in Federal Parliament this week. "Bigotry is not ok, Mr Brandis," Chairperson Cromelin said today. "It is astonishing that our top law maker seeks to passionately defend the right of people to be bigots than the rights of the most marginalised people in our society.""
* DEAHNNA RICHARDSON, NEWCASTLE HERALD: LETTER: WE NEED TO BE FREE OF BIGOTRY
- Analysis / Opinion
Newcastle Herald: Letter: We need to be free of bigotry
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2181092/letter-we-need-to-be-free-of-b...
27 Mar 14: "THIS week the government has introduced legislation to repeal sections of the Racial Discrimination Act which have been used to sue Andrew Bolt for racially vilifying fair-skinned Aboriginal people. For me, this move has been a serious source of anxiety. As a fair-skinned Aboriginal person, I often find myself in the unique position where people will divulge their own racist views under the false assumption that they are in sympathetic company. ... I rejoiced in the success of the case against Mr Bolt because I felt it was a win for those of us who were tired of being made to feel ashamed of our heritage; ... " By Deahnna Richardson, Islington
* NATIONAL INDIGENOUS RADIO SERVICE: CONGRESS: INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS BIGGEST COMPLAINANTS OF DISCRIMINATION
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Congress: Indigenous Australians biggest complainants of discrimination
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/33102/Congress%3A-Indigenous-Au...
28 Mar 14: "Australia's peak Indigenous representative body says the biggest proportion of complainants to the Human Rights Commission due to racial discrimination is First Nations Australians. ... Kirstie Parker from the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples told Torres Strait Radio the Act has contributed 20 years to building social cohesion in Australia." By Warren Barnsley/Torres Strait Radio 4MW
* NATIONAL INDIGENOUS RADIO SERVICE: MUNDINE HOPEFUL OF CHANGING GOVERNMENT'S MIND ON ANTI-RACISM LAWS
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Mundine hopeful of changing Government's mind on anti-racism laws
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/33081/Mundine-hopeful-of-changi...
27 Mar 14: "Prominent First Nations advisor Warren Mundine says he's confident the Indigenous Advisory Council can convince the Federal Government not to go ahead with changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. ... Mr. Mundine says he's hopeful the changes, which have been opposed by a number of community groups including the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, won't go ahead." By Warren Barnsley/ABC
* NATIONAL INDIGENOUS RADIO SERVICE: SOUTPHOMMASANE: NO REASON TO CHANGE THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Soutphommasane: No reason to change the Racial Discrimination Act
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/33083/Soutphommasane%3A-No-reas...
27 Mar 14: "The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, says his position to leave the Racial Discrimination Act alone hasn't changed with the Federal Government's policy announcement. ... Dr. Soutphommasane says he's struggling to understand why the Government is going down this path." By ABC/Warren Barnsley
* ABC NEWS: GREENS PROPOSE ACT LAW TO BYPASS FEDERAL RACIAL VILIFICATION CHANGES
- News
ABC News: Greens propose ACT law to bypass federal racial vilification changes
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-28/act-proposal-to-reverse-federal-ra...
28 Mar 14: "The ACT Greens want to amend the Territory's Discrimination Act to circumvent changes by Federal Attorney-General George Brandis to racial vilification laws. ... Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury is seeking support to revise the ACT laws to outlaw behaviour that offends, insults or humiliates someone on the grounds of race. "I'm concerned by moves by the Federal Government to roll back important provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act and the Commonwealth Law does allow the ACT to make laws in its place," he said. "Where the Commonwealth creates gaps I think the ACT can step up and fill those gaps.""
* GABRIELLE CHAN, THE GUARDIAN: GEORGE BRANDIS RACE LAW PROPOSALS DRAW COALITION CRITICISM
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: George Brandis race law proposals draw Coalition criticism
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/27/george-brandis-race-law-pro...
27 Mar 14: "The attorney general, George Brandis, is under pressure to back down on changes to the Racial Discrimination Act as he came under fire from the New South Wales premier and it became clear he was forced to water down the proposal by his cabinet colleagues. In a strong message to the federal government, the premier, Barry O’Farrell, ... "Bigotry should never be sanctioned, whether intentionally or not," said O’Farrell. "Vilification on the grounds of race or religion is always wrong. There is no place for inciting hatreds within our Australian society."" Gabrielle Chan
"Gabrielle Chan has been a journalist for 30 years. She has worked for The Australian, the ABC, The Daily Telegraph and most recently, political correspondent at The Hoopla."
* PAULINE VETUNA, THE PLEBEIAN: BRANDIS' FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO SPREAD FALSEHOODS TO FURTHER BIGOTED AGENDAS - S18C REPEAL
- Analysis / Opinion
The Plebeian: Brandis' fight for the right to SPREAD FALSEHOODS to further bigoted agendas - S18C repeal
http://citizenpleb.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/brandis-fight-for-the-right-...
"Below is an excerpt from the interview Attorney General George Brandis did with Emma Alberici on Lateline on Tuesday night (25/3/2014). Earlier in the week, Brandis had made headlines with his "people have the right to be bigots, you know" comment. The comment was made in the context of the debate surrounding his proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, which holds the number 1 spot on his to do list. Clarifying his position, The Lateline interview features a frank and hideous admission from Brandis - Senator Brandis believes people should have the right TO SPREAD UNTRUTHS to further a bigoted political agenda. ... " By Pauline Vetuna
* ANNE LU, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR MOSHE FISZMAN BEGS PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT NOT TO CHANGE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Analysis / Opinion
International Business Times: Holocaust Survivor Moshe Fiszman Begs Prime Minister Tony Abbott Not To Change Racial Discrimination Act
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/545399/20140328/racial-discrimination-act...
28 Mar 14: "Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s plans to change the Racial Discrimination Act have been met with criticisms from various groups. Holocaust Survivor Moshe Fiszman pleads the country’s leader to abandon his proposed changes, ... He penned an open letter to the PM, asking him to abandon his plans to change the RDA. "You might think you are increasing freedom, but let me assure you that you will be taking away the freedom of communities such as mine. The freedom to live without hatred and without lies being told about us," he wrote." By Anne Lu
* BISHOP PHILIP HUGGINS, ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF MELBOURNE: THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO CONCERNS IS WELCOME
- Statement
Anglican Diocese of Melbourne: The Government's response to concerns is welcome
Statement by Bishop Philip Huggins, Chair of the Melbourne Anglican Social Responsibilities Committee
http://www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/NewsAndViews/Pages/The-Government%E...
27 Mar 14: "It is good to learn today that members of the Federal Government are seeking to moderate the draft of proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
The nuances of legal terms and their interpretation by the Courts is one matter of concern whilst we seek to maximise freedom of speech but without hateful abuse of this precious freedom.
However, in the public domain, what matters is how the debate is perceived. Our Jewish friends, with their poignant memories, along with others who experience abuse do not need even the appearance that restraints are being lifted.
This is a time when perceptions count, whatever the detail. ... "
* STEVEN LEWIS, THE AUSTRALIAN: PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD DRAMATICALLY WEAKEN THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Analysis / Opinion
The Australian: Proposed changes would dramatically weaken the Racial Discrimination Act
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/proposed-changes-...
28 Mar 14: "THE proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act announced by the Attorney-General George Brandis have far-reaching implications and will significantly weaken the existing protections against racial vilification. For nearly 20 years, the anti-vilification provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act have provided a legislative shield against hate speech in our community." Steven Lewis
* BACKGROUND: OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT (RDA) CHANGES
Last updated: 29 March 2014
http://indymedia.org.au/2014/03/27/background-opposition-to-proposed-rac...
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