Racial Discrimination Act: Malcolm Turnbull promised 18C changes ahead of Tony Abbott spill

MALCOLM Turnbull had committed to making changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to persuade pro free-speech MPs in his quest for the leadership last year.

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MALCOLM Turnbull had committed to making changes to the controversial section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to persuade pro free-speech MPs in his quest for the leadership last year, it has been revealed.

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed that a number of MPs had been given assurances that Mr Turnbull as Prime Minister would revisit the issue of 18C after it was jettisoned by Tony Abbott, when it became clear it would be blocked in the Senate.

Two MPs, who refused to be named, said it was clear to them the commitment was made as part of the campaign to take the leadership last September that he would look at changing the law ­rather than the Abbott plan to repeal it entirely.

A number of MPs had been given assurances that Mr Turnbull as Prime Minister would revisit the issue of 18C it was jettisoned by Tony Abbott, but it fell by the wayside.

“There was a deliberate impression left that he would put it back on the table,” one senior Liberal source said.

Another said intermediaries had assured several MPs Mr Turnbull would commit to changing it as PM.

On becoming Prime Minister, the issue fell off the government’s agenda.

The Prime Minister’s ­office would not comment.

The claims have been made as newly elected Liberal Senator from Victoria, James Paterson, called on Mr Turnbull to take up the mantle and show leadership on the issue.

An increasingly vocal chorus of support is re-emerging within the Liberal Party room for a changes to section 18C, if not a repeal of it.

Then-PM Tony Abbott and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time / Picture: Craig Greenhill

Under 18C it is unlawful to “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate” on the basis of “race, colour or national or ethnic origin”. Critics argue that it is a clamp on a right to free speech.

The WA Liberal Party proposes simply to remove the words “insult and offend”.

Mr Abbott said last week he had erred in shelving the issue and hinted it was a factor in his leadership loss.

Calls for the laws to be changed resurfaced again this week when NSW Senator David Leyonhjelm (left) said he had launched a claim with the Human Rights Commission under 18C after being described as an “angry white male” by a Fairfax journalist. He said he did it to highlight the “absurdity” of the law.

Senator David Leyonhjelm.