At least four coalition senators are expected to break from the government to support a bid to water down racial discrimination laws.
Liberal senators Cory Bernardi and Dean Smith co-sponsored a private member's bill last year with Family First's Bob Day and Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm.
It removes the words "offend and insult" from Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and is a variation on the proposed changes that the Abbott government abandoned in August after a public backlash.
Queensland senator Ian Macdonald and West Australian senator Chris Back have also decided to support the bill.
Senator Macdonald said nobody wanted to deliberately humiliate and intimidate people but he believes criminal sanctions are not necessary.
"I think Australia is grown up enough to not have laws to direct our behaviour," he told AAP.
WA senator Linda Reynolds said it's her personal view that the law has overreached.
"I don't believe insulting or offending someone should give rise to legal liability," she said in a statement.
But she believes the public debate on the issue should continue and politicians should not rush in to legislate.
Australian Greens senator Christine Milne said the rebellions showed the prime minister was losing control.
"If those senators cross the floor, the ugly face of the Abbott government will be totally on show for the country," she said.
Share
