Government MPs have used a coalition party room meeting to warn their colleagues to make sure the government’s intentions are not misunderstood in marginal seats that are home to large multicultural communities.
The inquiry will look into whether changes need to be made to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which makes it an offence to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or group on the basis of race or ethnicity.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned his colleagues the issue should be discussed with great respect for the views of others.
During question time in parliament he said: “We need to make sure that our laws get the balance right between defending the strength of our multicultural society and the mutual respect on which it depends.”
Executive Director of the Australia-Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, Colin Rubenstein, has told SBS News he supports the inquiry because he is confident that it will highlight the importance of maintaining the racial vilification legislation.
Mr Rubenstein said: “It’s healthier to air these things, let everyone put his or her case forward and hopefully we will arrive at a constructive consensus.”
Support for change within the coalition has been building following the decision of the Federal Court to throw out a racial hatred case against three Queensland University students on Friday.
It ruled the students had no case to answer in response to a $250,000 compensation claim by an Indigenous staffer over comments made back in May 2013.
The parliamentary inquiry will also investigate whether the complaints-handling procedures of the Australian Human Rights Commission should be reformed to make sure complaints which have no reasonable prospect of success are identified and dismissed at an early stage.
Malcolm Turnbull said in a statement: “It is important that the machinery for human rights protection in Australia operates in such a way as to ensure procedural fairness and that it cannot be used as a vehicle for vexatious complaints.”
NSW liberal backbencher Julian Leeser told SBS News there are a number of cases where section 18C has not been used the way it should be.
“My view is that when matters come in they actually need to assess whether the case has any reasonable prospect of success. If it doesn't, they must terminate the matter,” he said.
The MP, who has a Jewish background and is a member of federal parliament’s Human Rights Committee, believes his colleagues are aware of the risks when it comes to migrant community groups.
“There's quite a strong understanding among Liberals of all stripes that this is an issue and that we need to take into account the concerns of multicultural communities as we do the concerns of other Australians in this space,” Mr Leeser said.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott tried to repeal section 18C during as prime minister but backed off following a fierce backlash from migrant community groups.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has told reporters in Canberra there are bigger issues to deal with than changes to 18C.
“How many new jobs were created by amending section 18C? How will it help protect our AAA credit rating by amending section 18C? How many more teachers or nurses or apprentices will be created by reforming or changing section 18C?” Mr Shorten said.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has admitted the issue is not at the forefront of most Australian’s minds but the government needs to be able to deal with multiple issues at once.
The parliamentary inquiry will report back on February 28 next year.
