Racial Discrimination Act
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Proposed changed to S18C defeated
The Australian Senate last night rejected the government’s proposed changes to water down the Racial Discrimination Act. The defeat came as the Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon team, Jacqui Lambie and others all voted in defense of the current legislation protecting Australians against racial discrimination. The move to seek such changes itself damaged Australia…
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Emboldening those promoting bigotry
Yesterday we warned that a bill introduced to the Senate on Wednesday by the Government was seeking to water down Australia’s laws against racial discrimination to promote the interests of those who want bigotry to be more lawful in Australia so they can abuse vulnerable minorities without consequence. Our CEO, Dr Andre Oboler, previously told the Parliamentary…
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Press Release: A climate of terror and fear
Our condolences go to the victims of the terrorists attack in London. Our admiration goes to the British PM who in the face of a terrorists attack on Parliament still had the conviction to speak out not only against terrorism but also for the values democracy seeks to protect, including both human rights and free…
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OHPI response to the Freedom of Speech / S18C Report
The Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) welcomes the report into Freedom of Speech and S18C of the Racial Discrimination Act from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. OHPI’s submission and evidence from our CEO were cited repeatedly in the Committee’s report and we’re please to have made a valuable contribution to the discussion. OHPI’s…
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Freedom of Speech Inquiry – what people said
The first submissions to the Federal Government’s inquiry into S18C and Freedom of Speech have been published on the Parliaments website. More submissions will be released in due course. Here’s some extracts of what some people and organisations said in their submissions: Professors Luke McNamara and Katharine Gelber (Submission 2): “Based on the evidence, therefore,…
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2016 submission on S18C and Freedom of Speech in Australia
The Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) is Australia’s only Harm Prevention Charity dedicated to the issue of online hate. A large part of our work relates to identifying and combating cyber-racism against various parts of the community. In our work, we seek to strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and protecting the right…
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Lady Diamond explains S18C
In the second in our series of educational videos by Lady Diamond, the anti-hate campaigner explains what S18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is really about and why is it important. Your thoughts and feedback on this video can be shared on it’s main posting on Facebook – click here. Please help us share Lady…
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PRESS RELEASE: OHPI’s S 18C Submission
In a submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on proposed changes to Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act the Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) has warned of serious and unforseen consequences if the proposed changes go ahead.Public sentiment is also against any changes to the Act with community groups of all types united against the proposed changes…
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OHPI Submission on Racial Discrimination and S 18C
Earlier today the Online Hate Prevention Institute sent in a submission (also visible below) to the consultation by Australia’s Attorney-General on his proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). Our submission focused on the issue of cyber-racism and the role S 18C plays in tackling this problem. Executive Summary The Online Hate Prevention…
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Social Media Users more open to racism with law changes
April 7, 2014: Warren Barnsley, Social Media Users more open to racism with law changes, National Indigenous Radio Service The Online Hate Prevention Institute is concerned proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act could open the floodgates for racial abuse on social media. The Federal Government wants to repeal an aspect of the Act that…