Attacks on freedom of speech and freedom of religion contained in Labor’s anti-discrimination Bill have undermined the common sense protections the Bill set out to achieve, according to Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Gerard Maley.
Mr Maley said the Bill, to be debated in parliamentary sittings starting this week, has received an avalanche of opposition from key stakeholders and the general public.
“Parts of the Bill that afford sensible protections to certain vulnerable groups are not contentious,” he said.
“Territorians want and expect everyone to be treated fairly. Nobody is in favour of gross vilification and dangerous hate speech.
“But rather than focus on the outcomes people want, Labor has tied good legislation to bad legislation.”
Mr Maley said if the Bill were just about those common sense protections, it would pass unopposed and unremarked.
“But Labor has bundled them up with attacks on freedom that the community can’t support,” he said.
“The attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech contained within this Bill are out of step with the original intent of anti-discrimination laws.
“Freedom of religion and freedom of speech are fundamental to our society and our way of life.
“Labor is using sensible protections as a Trojan horse to sneak in oppressive restrictions on free speech and an attack of freedom of religion.
“While we fully support the common sense protections, we can’t support a Bill that strips away freedoms from all Territorians.
“We will seek to remove those changes that will negatively impact fundamental freedoms that need to be preserved.”
ENDS