It is frustrating to see this example of the toxin of political correctness presented as if it were acceptable comment.

The effect of Section 18C was demonstrated in the Andrew Bolt case, where he made a true comment and was penalized when someone offended by a truthful comment was able to take punitive action against Bolt because of the pernicious effect of this legislation.

Thankfully we now have a government which will repeal this section, but it should never have been enacted.

Oh god, another one.

Not only is this one a ratbag lefty, she comes from Tasmania, the failed state, only afloat by the generosity of other Australians.

Even worse, she was one of those who presided over the failure of that state.

At least with that knowledge, we can take anything she advocates as a very bad direction to take.

Could it be that the Tasmanians are finally wising up a bit? Could they have exported her to Canberra to get her out of their lives, & government?

Tasmania is living proof that a major defect of Federation is that State of tiny population is over-represented by politicians, dammit! ;(

And BTW there are two things I hate - racial vilification and those goddamned WASPs.

ditto ;(

I completely agree that racial equality is at the heart of genuine sporting contests, and support the ICC’s measures against racist abuse by players and spectators. But this is in a context where people come together voluntarily to compete on the basis of skill and talent. Although they are being lost, a degree of mutual respect and courtesy have always been part of cricket’s culture. It’s entirely appropriate for the sport to set for itself rule about how its participants should behave.

The author’s leap from this to the assertion that “Behaviour that isn't acceptable in sport certainly shouldn't be acceptable in everyday life” is spectacularly poor logic. My local bowls club bans swearing, so I shouldn’t drop the occasional “F” word? My local boxing club allows people to hit each other, so its ok to bash someone? Shane Warne was banned for using diuretics, so I can’t either?

The author also fails to distinguish between behaviour that is “unacceptable” (I agree, racial abuse is never “acceptable”) from behaviour that should be prohibited by the law. Much though I loathe racism, I think the danger posed to our society by the suppression of free speech is greater than the danger of allowing people to make racist comments. We should let racists know loud and clear that racial abuse is unacceptable. But we should not prohibit them from expressing their views.

Lisa it is not a good idea to post a comment or essay on OLO, as most of the OLO posters are leftovers from "The Australian"; who do not allow comment from the public (Unless they pay).
Hence why this lot of Murdoch worshippers, let their vitriolic frustration out on OLO!
Sad! I agree !!

International sports contests are not a "society".

You are trying to equate the interactions of international teams with the interactions of citizens *within* a nation.
Those are two very different things.
In fact, most international teams are probably mono-racial, since most nations' populations are predominantly mono-racial.

Our laws should not be influenced by what any sports "authority" has to say about anything.

And to treat the *fans* as though they are subject to the same "authority" as players is even more absurd.

I am so sick of private organisations acting as a law-unto-themselves.

Why should only racial discrimination receive such a reaction?
How can we take their "principles" seriously, when they are intrinsically sexist?

No women are permitted to play in the same teams as men in most sports.
People in glass houses...