Charlie Hebdo and proposals for change of s18C of the Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975

The terrorist attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo and its implications for freedom of expression in France has renewed debate of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 in Australia. Critics of the Commonwealth the Act have claimed that s18C would unnecessarily curb freedom of expression, if a Charlie Hebdo-style publication were to operate in Australia.

Tim Wilson, Australia's Human Rights Commissioner, has argued that section 18's current wording, which makes it unlawful to 'do an act' which is 'reasonably likely' to 'offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate' another person based on either 'race, colour, or national or ethnic origin', would have prohibited the existence of Charlie Hebdo in Australia. The criticism follows an unsuccessful attempt by the Federal Attorney-General in 2014 to...