Malcolm Turnbull Is Edging Closer To Changing Race Hate Laws

Malcolm Turnbull is feeling pressure from Liberal MPs to amend section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, despite promising he wouldn't buckle under any pressure.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will consider a Senate inquiry into the clause which makes it an offence to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or group" on the basis of race or ethnicity.

Liberal MPs have been gathering up supporters and trying to build momentum in a bid to pressure leaders to make amendments to the legislation. Turnbull remaining open to a Senate inquiry has been seen as a "nervous step" towards buckling to their pressures, and to watering down the Racial Discrimination Act.

The Australian reported earlier today that Cabinet minister Josh Frydenberg said the Bill Leak case highlights the need to remove the words "offend and insult" from the Racial Discrimination act.

Journalists who think 18c restricts their work need to actually read the Racial Discrimination Act pic.twitter.com/bfRQlO4H27

— Osman Faruqi (@oz_f) November 4, 2016

Malcolm Turnbull and Attorney-General George Brandis have long ensured that under their leadership, no efforts will be made to brook the removal of "offend and insult" from Section 18C.

Changing the racial discrimination act is the final act of selling out by moderate Malcolm. Political suicide to stave off Hanson. #auspol

— Mike. E. Niss (@ZipZapPS4) November 6, 2016

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten expressed his concerns over Turnbull's loss of political will in an interview with the ABC's Insiders program last Friday.

"I think the latest legislation smacks of a political stunt designed by a weak Prime Minister to keep the right wing of his party – and indeed some of the more right-wing elements in this dysfunctional Senate – from eating him alive," he said.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the proposed changes to 18C were a "solution looking for a problem".

"I think most Australians don’t sit at home thinking, ‘my freedom’s being curtailed to go out and be a racist or a bigot’,” he said.

“I just don’t think it’s a conversation happening in lounge rooms. They’re worried about house prices, they’re worried about access to healthcare and education, and this is a solution looking for a problem.

“Why on earth do we want to make it easier for people to be racists? That’s the outcome of a change to 18C.”

Photo: Twitter (@TurnbullMalcolm)