A parliamentary inquiry into the Racial Discrimination Act has recommended that no major changes be made to the section of the Act that covers freedom of speech.
Inquiry Chair, MP Ian Goodenough, said in his tabling statement to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights that 18C of the Act must pass the proverbial pub test.
"Our duty is to govern for all Australians, and that includes mainstream Australians who feel that their right to free speech is being infringed by political correctness and the over zealous (sic) application of laws such as Section 18C," he said.
"Mainstream Australians deserve the same rights as racial and ethnic minorities. It is important that the law does not promote reverse discrimination."
Conducted by the Parliaments Joint Committee on Human Rights, the three-month review received hundreds of recommendations regarding possible changes to Section 18C of the Act, which makes it illegal to offend, insult or humiliate someone based on their race.
However Mr Goodenough suggested that there were already legal provisions to protect Australians from such discrimination in place.
