Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has indicated that his government will consider making changes to the state’s anti-discrimination laws ahead of the federal government’s proposed marriage plebiscite.
Speaking at a budget estimates hearing on Monday the Premier said he was considering changing the state’s laws.
“We want people on both sides of the debate to have the right to have that opinion,” Premier Hodgman said.
“We are considering possible changes that will allow people to speak freely but appropriately and in a way that is respectful to the debate.”
The proposal to change the laws follows a high profile case earlier this year where Archbishop Julius Porteous was found to have a case to answer in relation the Catholic Church’s ‘Don’t Mess With Marriage’ booklet.
The complaint was brought forward by Martine Delaney, who is a senate candidate for The Greens. The case was dropped when Delaney withdrew the complaint saying that it was unlikely that the two parties would ever reach a compromise.
The government’s announcement has been welcomed by the Australian Christian Lobby. The ACL has been campaigning to have anti-discrimination laws revoked in the lead up to the plebiscite, arguing that it needed for an open discussion about Christians’ views about couples of the same sex being married.
The Australian Christian Lobby’s Managing Director Lyle Shelton applauded the announcement.
“Anti-discrimination laws of course play an important role in protecting human rights but a re-balancing is needed so the human right of freedom of speech is not supressed,” Shelton said.
“Democracies thrive on free debate but sometimes anti-discrimination laws are used to close this down.
The religious lobbyist said all states should follow Tasmania’s lead and adjust anti-discrimination laws.
“The ACL believes the action by Tasmania should be considered by other states,” Shelton said.
“While Tasmania has a very low threshold from which to trigger a legal action, other states also needed to consider law reform to protect freedom of speech.
Jen Van-Achteren, spokesperson for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights group told The Examiner newspaper that the act in its current form provided protection from hateful and offensive conduct.
“Recent statements from the ACL linking marriage equality to the rise of the Nazis shows how hateful a plebiscite will be,” Van-Achteren said.
“Should there be a plebiscite, LGBTI people will need stronger protections from hatred, not weaker ones.”
OIP Staff
