Warren Mundine maintains criticism of Coalition's proposed changes to Racial Discrimination Act

Updated

The head of the Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council is continuing to pressure the Government over its proposed changes to racial discrimination laws, and insists he will not stand down from his position.

Warren Mundine says he is pleased Attorney-General George Brandis has watered down his draft bill changing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Provisions making it unlawful for someone to publicly "offend, insult, or humiliate" another person or group based on their race would be removed.

Instead, a new clause would ban racial vilification.

Senator Brandis released the proposed changes a day after he told Parliament that people "do have a right to be bigots".

Speaking on ABC News 24, Mr Mundine says he considers Senator Brandis to be a good minister but believes his comments on bigotry have been damaging.

"It's soaking up the energy of the Government," Mr Mundine said.

"On any register you look at this week, it's been a very bad week for the Government."

The proposed changes to the Act have caused unrest from religious and community groups, and also on the Coalition backbench.

The Government says it will release a draft bill that will be open for community consultation.

"In the community people are calling it the bigoted act everywhere I go, and I go right across Australian society," Mr Mundine said.

"I think the Government has a lot of problems about this and even within the party room itself and across the Liberal Party has a whole."

Liberal backbencher Ken Wyatt, the first Aboriginal member of the House of Representatives, says he will consider crossing the floor if he believes the legislation is unsatisfactory.

He says repealing the laws could encourage bigots to air their opinions.

"I don't agree with bigots having absolute freedom to make the type of comments that they do and in vilifying any cultural group," he said.

"Free speech means that you can have a discussion around an issue, and if you have strong views express them, but not express them as a bigot.

"I will await the consultation process that comes back ... and then I'll have the discussions with leadership to influence changes to hold that right of people who are vilified and to protect the vulnerable."

Wilson says free speech best medicine for bigotry

Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, who is in favour of repealing section 18C, says everyone has a responsibility to stop bigotry.

"You can't do that if you can't stand up and speak out," he said.

"We need to make sure bad ideas are heard so that we can highlight why they are a bad idea and correct them, rather than trying to silence them which in the end gives them credibility to some people who want to inflame them."

"[The changes] make sure we can talk about issues around race when they arise in academic or political discussion without the fear of censorship or people not being able to say things which have merit and justification," he added.

Should the Government push ahead with the proposed changes after the consultation period, Mr Mundine says it will be up to Prime Minister Tony Abbott as to whether he would continue on as head of his advisory council.

"I said I would be stupid to step aside. I've got a massive battle and job to do," Mr Mundine said.

"We have got big issues to do with closing the gap and moving forward ... I will continue with that battle and I will continue my role as long as I have the pleasure of the Prime Minister," he said.

Topics: race-relations, law-crime-and-justice, federal-government, community-and-society, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, multiculturalism, rights, information-and-communication, government-and-politics, australia

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