By Victoria Stone-Meadows
CITY of Casey Councillors Steve Beardon and Rex Flannery attended a community forum to oppose suggested changes to the Federal Racial Discrimination Act on Thursday 8 December.
Local Labor MPs Mark Dreyfus, Clare O’Neil and Julian Hill hosted the forum about Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act at The Castle in Dandenong.
The forum was in response to a Federal inquiry into removing the words ‘offend’ and ‘insult’ from the law in the interests of free speech.
Cr Beardon represents the Mayfield Ward in Casey and said he supports leaving the Act the way it is because changing it would open the door for discrimination of people in the Cranbourne community.
“There is a lot of concern from people that have chosen to live in Australia who have not been made welcome as they can,” Cr Beardon said.
“The impact of racial slurs and comments cuts deep and can affect people emotionally for months or years as they go along.”
Cr Beardon said changing 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act could send a messge to people in the community that insulting and offending people based on their race was OK.
“It sends the wrong message to some people that they can act in a way that is not appropriate,” he said.
“A small percentage of people will see it as a green light that they can target minority groups and speak ill of people they may or may not understand.”
Cr Beardon has also submitted a written plea to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights to urge the Federal Government to leave the Act the way it is.
“They need to leave the Act the way it is and keep moving forward in this country, not backward,” he said.
“We live in a fantastic place that is very welcoming and we need to be promoting a direction of inclusiveness and not undo legislation that makes people feel welcome to live here.”
On Wednesday 7 December, the State Government welcomed a joint submission from more than 60 community groups from across the state calling for racial discrimination laws to be protected.
