18C: Proposed changes to Racial Discrimination Act defeated in Senate
Updated
The Senate has defeated the Government's attempt to change the wording of the Racial Discrimination Act.
The Government had wanted to replace the words "insult, offend and humiliate" in section 18C with "harass".
But after hours of — at times heated — debate, Labor, the Greens and some of the crossbench voted against it.
Labor's leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, used her seniority to move an amendment earlier than expected which killed off a large tranche of the Government's proposed changes.
The Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Senator Jacqui Lambie voted with Labor to block the changes.
One Nation and Senator Derryn Hinch voted with the Government.
A key proponent of the changes, Attorney-General George Brandis said it was a "sad day".
The Government had insisted the changes to the Racial Discrimination Act would strengthen the law, rather than undermining it.
The changes were being championed by the right wing of the Liberal party.
Section 18C was added to the Racial Discrimination Act in 1995 and makes it illegal to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the basis of a person's race.
Topics: federal-government, government-and-politics, australia
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