Submission: On Proposed Amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Repeal of Sections 18B, 18C, 18D, and 18E

RLC recognises the importance of freedom of speech in a democratic society and acknowledges freedom of speech as a fundamental human right. The protection of this freedom, however, must be balanced against other fundamental human rights and freedoms, such as the right to be protected from discrimination and harassment on the basis of individual characteristics such as race. RLC believes that the right to freedom of speech should not form the basis for a public license to discriminate, vilify or defame individuals on the basis of their race, colour, origin or ethnicity.