Lexi, you can't accuse Bolt of being selective in his facts and do the same thing yourself. How about quoting from the end of the Crikey article where Margaret Simons sums up her position?

"Whatever the worth of what Bolt wrote, and I think it was highly offensive and wrong, it was in one sense not all that extreme or unusual. Similar views can be heard in many pubs and cafes, on the street, and indeed among some Aboriginal people. Justice Bromberg’s judgment contests the rationality of Bolt’s defence of his words. No problem there. The problem is that the conclusion to the argument is a finding of illegality.

The judgment means that journalists, particularly well-read, influential journalists, are to be held to higher standards than ordinary people. That the public "deserves to be protected" from them. It’s a dangerous notion.

Civil libertarians have for a long while argued that the Racial Discrimination Act is too broadly worded. I agree."

Speculation is one thing Jay of Melbourne, (about a persons racial identity). In Bolts case he chose to connotate or reflect his opinion upon the character of the subjects. A practice that fundamentally vilifies, and this is the real issue here.

In this case the victim/victims have legally challenged this form of reporting and rightfully won. Racial awareness and understanding can be much better achieved without vilification from powerful media figures JOM.

I concede R0bert that both sides mimic each other today regarding policy, but the initiators of this process of pressing the xenophobic button for political purposes began with John Howard and has continued and intensified with Abbott. It is a divisive and dangerous tactic.

Prior too this era we had a much more civilised and progressive view of both refugees and the indigenous people, until the Liberal Party made these people the political football we experience today.

"Imagine how we would seem to the rest of the world if we turned the boats around and sent them back out to sea , as determined by Abbott himself as our PM".

We would be International hicks and pariahs overnight, if we aren't already with the overseas antics of Morrison and Bishop in Malaysia etc, in their respective Shadow portfolio's. We are at least local pariahs already (with the exception of Nauru), if Abbott gains Gov't. A stroke of diplomatic genius that is.

The views of people like Andrew Bolt whom incite, not report in their articles, reflect badly in our own view of ourselves. Creating a lowest common denominator effect. This does not go unnoticed Internationally and in the end reflects badly in the view of us in other countries, and our place in the world.

I agree with the court's decision.

To imply that people do not feel their Aboriginality because of their lighter skin, or that they simply milked the system, is an absolute joke.

People should have the right to take legal action when they are wronged.

The right really needs to lift their game when they make their points on Aboriginal issues and assimilation.

I have been doing research on the HC Coombs papers, and i will be making a detailed response to the rubbish that seeks to denigrate and exaggerate the efforts of past individuals helping Aboriginals.

Divisive rubbish put forward by Bolt and others should never pass as insightful commentary, even if they get regular gigs in the Murdoch papers.

Yeah but, Wobbles it doesn't work that way, the Anti Discrimination laws don't apply to White men, they were never intended to protect us, no judge would uphold a case of racial vilification against you, or I, or Andrew Bolt.

There's been a slight shift toward equal treatment of White men under the "Hate Crimes" laws in the U.S, simply because the number of Racially biased crimes by Blacks on Whites has gotten so out of control that the prosecutors have to do something about it. I heard the other day that the first Hate crimes charges are being laid against participants of Black "flash mobs", groups of Black youth who seek out and bash Whites and Asians.
The scales are slowly starting to fall from White people's eyes regarding "Racism" and those who perpetuate the myth of the "Evil White Oppressor". There are dozens of "Anti Racism" groups in this country yet there is not one "Racists Group", not one exclusively White political party, community group, club or school.....so what are Anti Racists fighting?.

GrahamY,

Are you serious? Journalists should most definitely be held to higher standards than Joe Public chatting in the local cafe or pub.

They are supposed to be professionals. They hold a position of authority and influence in the public sphere.

A true, working and fair democracy relies on it! An ill-informed/misguided electorate undermines democracy at the core