Looks as though the racists are getting too little attention lately so they'd better jump up & down again.

"destroy the Australia we know"

You already did.
This isn't Australia.
It's Multopia.

"Approximately 25 per cent of the people of NSW were born overseas, while another 25 per cent have at least one parent who was born overseas"

And most of those are White, so the laws can't even apply.

It doesn't matter what the dictionary "definition" (as if there's only one) of any word is.
Laws themselves contain their own definitions on page one, so no confusion.

"Nor has anyone articulated exactly what it is they would like to say that the law as it stands is preventing them from saying."

Whatever they want, short of inciting violence.

"it would enjoy complete exemption if it occurs in the course of “public discussion” about virtually any matter."

How do expect to have a "public discussion" if some members of public cannot speak freely?

"would send a dangerous signal that .... bigotry has a place in our society."

It does.
If people want it.
Just like cigars, pornography and Nazi zombie movies.

People can only be "bigoted" in their own life.
No person has a "right" to be part of another's life.

Is someone commenting on Facebook addressing *you*?
No, they're talking with their friends.
If you stumble upon their conversation, that doesn't make you part of it.

Thinking rationally a "Racist" should be immediately dismissed because by definition he is a person without any insight into the condition of his own group much less a valid perspective on any others.
The world as described by the author has nothing to fear from overt "Racists" but being primarily an anti intellectual movement it's deeply threatened by men of logic, integrity, honesty and tact.
We could, if we wanted to construct a thesis undermining the anti Racist worldview without mentioning race or identifying any particular group, that's what scares the anti Racist more than anything.

I think that it is a bit ludicrous that you cannot have a debate about the feasibility of maintaining the immigration rates.Try talking about the amount of immigrants to Australia without having the Racist card thrown at you, some of these points are valid points that people try to make,that in no way show a racist attitude !Also political Correctness disables our ability to say what we really think about vital issues that affect us all. We need our freedom of speech to be returned to us, not because it allows bigots have their say, but for the ability of the vast majority of Australians to have their say !

We didn't need any of this garbage in the Australia I grew up in, & it was awash with Poms & Southern Europeans, along with a good smattering from damn near everywhere else.

We all rubbed along pretty well in country NSW, & in Sydney. There were a few problems mainly for the older Ozzies in suburbs that became concentrated with one group. They were minor, & none became ghettoes.

Then along came multiculturalism, with con men like All Grassby, & this rubbish has developed.

I must say I am not sorry that Sydney is no longer a part of Australia I call home.

Apart from the ethical reasons for allowing free speech which other commentators have listed, it's simply good politics to allow prejudiced people to operate out in the open where you can keep an eye on them, not force them to go underground where you can't.