Suseonline "We can scream verbal abuse at each other because these words won't physically hurt us, ok?"

Not if they constitute "assault" we can't, which is already illegal.
Therefore, no need for special "racial" assault laws (verbal or physical).

The ten commandments don't include swearing, only using the Lord's name "in vain".
You of all people shouldn't want our laws based on the Bible.
Ripping babies to pieces isn't exactly kosher.

"Many people equate racial abuse to swearing.
I agree with them."

That still doesn't mean either should be *illegal*.

Just because something is distasteful, unpleasant, vulgar, obnoxious, regrettable, does not justify criminalisation.
That should require a serious violation, damage, threat, not mere "offense".

And in the context of sport, it is not truly serious.
It is just mind games, intended to put the player off their game.

No different to making slurs about their mother, or implying homosexuality (I note no prohibition on homophobia from our enlightened officials).

I fart in your general direction!
Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits Shockadelic...

Dear Shockadelic,

We're all firm believers in letting loose.
It's freeing and healthy. However if you're
a bit uncomfortable with doing so you should
place toliet paper in your butthole in order to
stifle the sound of your fart. Although I suspect
from your quote you believe in letting your
opinions ring, you free-spiritied trombonist, you!

First off, Lisa Maria Singh is an Australian born and bred.(when in doubt "Google").

That said I dos't agree with her and as one of Irish descent (although many wog nations are also in the blood}, and bearing a distinctly Irish name I do miss the racial vilification that had been hurled at us in the past.
It was character and thick skin building and should be allowed, provided also that the utterer is prepared to wear a bunch of fives as a payment for the right of their version of free speech.

People who enjoy the rights of free speech have
a duty to respect other people's rights. A person's
freedom of speech is limited by the rights of others.
All modern societies, including democratic ones, put
various limitations on what people may say. They
prohibit certain types of speech that they believe
might harm the government or the people. We have laws
covering libel, slander, public decency, hate speech,
violence, and so on. The Racial Discrimination Act
has been supported by consecutive governments in this
country and terms that once reflected the feelings of
some Australians today these "outmoded" words are no
longer accepatable to most people. Words such as "ni**er"
"dago" "wog" "boong" and so on.