The Forum > Article Comments > Alan Austin does himself a disservice > Comments
Alan Austin does himself a disservice : Comments
By Calum Thwaites, published 5/9/2017If Austin is keen to do a 'Media Watch' review of reporting on the QUT case, he would do well to refresh his memory of the ABC's and Fairfax media's coverage.
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I welcome your admission that the ABC talks just as much bollocks as the Australian, but not as much as you clearly.
18C - Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin
(1) It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.
It is clearly written that with conditions that it is illegal to offend someone. And as the term offend is so subjective it is entirely up to the judge to determine whether it meets community standards, which themselves are exceptionally vague and subjective.
That many people have been unfairly targeted and hurt as these students were by the incorrect application of this law shows that not only is it used to punish free speech, but it is used for extortion.
That Cindy Prior managed to inflict huge costs on QUT and the students and got away with a slap on the wrist shows exactly how powerful a weapon 18c is for unscrupulous rent seekers.