Top-flight Tasmanians sign pledge to defend Anti-Discrimination Act
WHAT do a gourmet farmer, a TV writer, a wildlife champion and a museum owner have in common? They have all signed a public pledge to defend Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act.
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WHAT do a gourmet farmer, a TV writer, a wildlife champion and a museum owner have in common? They have all signed a public pledge to defend Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act.
A full-page advertisement will run in newspapers today calling for the state’s “world-class” Anti-Discrimination Act not to be watered down. It bears the names of 40 high-profile Tasmanians from all walks of life.
The State Government says the proposed changes to the Act are about striking the right balance between providing protection from discrimination and unlawful conduct and still allowing public debate.
Others, such as MONA owner David Walsh, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary’s Greg Irons, author and TV presenter Matthew Evans and The Kettering Incident creator Vicki Madden say weakening the state’s laws will prompt hate speech and harm vulnerable Tasmanians.
Mr Irons said the Act, as it stood, allowed for freedom of speech and changing it would constitute promoting bullying.
“I see no benefit in that whatsoever,’ Mr Irons said.
“Everyone has the right to their own beliefs and religious groups can currently say they do not agree with certain things. But they should be able to say these things without attacking certain groups of people in society. Changing the Act is basically saying bullying is acceptable.”
The advertisement bears 40 high-profile endorsements and says the existing Act provides protections that foster respect and inclusion.
“Hate speech tarnished the reputation of Tasmania during the gay law reform debate in the 1990s,” the group says.
“Our current laws help Tasmania mature to a more respectful society. They hold us all to the same standard of respectful speech, including religious leaders, and set a national standard for dealing with hate speech.”
The Government said it was a very strong supporter of freedom of speech.
“The proposed changes merely extend the same freedom of speech rights to religion, as currently exist for artists, academics, and scientists,” a Government spokesman said.
“We have introduced a Bill that seeks to ensure that balance is achieved. The Bill has now passed the House of Assembly and no doubt there will be considerable further discussion on this as it progresses to the Legislative Council.”