13/2 Matthew Franklin for The Australian |... the winds of change were freshening as a majority of Labor MPs refused to be sworn in holding Bibles, instead exercising their option to offer an affirmation of allegiance. Of the Labor frontbench, only Mr Rudd, Simon Crean, Martin Ferguson and Peter Garrett took the Bible in hand as they declared their allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs and successors.
In marked contrast, all members of the God-fearing Coalition front bench swore on the Bible, many supplying their own for the occasion.
Jenny Stokes of Saltshakers prepared the following information on this topic (14 Sept 2004) : -
Labor – Discrimination and vilification (racial – religious – ‘sexuality’) legislation proposed (From the Labor Policy Platform 2004)
Labor recognises the right of all people to live and work in an environment free from vilification or harassment, and will provide an accessible and effective means for all people to protect themselves from such behaviour.
Labor Policy Statement - Human Rights & Equality for All : Discrimination (Chapter 7) :
13. Labor supports legislative and administrative action by all Australian governments to eliminate discrimination, including systemic discrimination, on the grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, sexuality, gender identity, disability, genetic makeup, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
14. Where necessary, Labor will take special measures designed to achieve equality and eliminate the effects of both historic and contemporary discrimination. .... (Excerpted from http://www.alp.org.au/platform/chapter_07.php)
This policy is proposed to be implemented in two main areas: racial and religious vilification and sexuality vilification…
Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2003 :
Saltshakers told us Robert McClelland, (then ALP Shadow Attorney General), introduced a Private Member’s Bill titled the ‘Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2003’, to the parliament on 1 Dec 2003 :
Labor’s Racial and Religious Hatred Bill 2003 would establish three offences under federal law of :
- Threatening to cause physical harm to another person or group because of their race, colour, religion or national or ethnic origin.
- Threatening to destroy or damage property of a person or group because of their race, colour religion or national or ethnic origin.
- Engaging in public acts that have the intention and likely effect of inciting racial or religious hatred against a person or group.
This was promoted by Nicola Roxon in a speech on Vietnam Human Rights Day, 13 Dec 2003.
“ . . .The second issue I would like to flag is to let this audience know about a Private member’s bill introduced by Labor into the Federal Parliament called the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill 2003. This Bill seeks to ensure that threats of racial and religious violence, and public incitement of racial and religious hatred, will be subject to the strongest possible legal sanction. Racial and religious hatred is a clear threat to Australia’s social stability, forcing many Australians to live in fear and insecurity, and with the potential to cause serious violence and harm.”
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