Shunning reform the real ‘fool’s errand’

Restrictions on free speech imposed by section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 look set to remain in place as the government turns its back on reform.

But this refusal to address widely held concerns about diminished freedom of speech is actually a symptom of the complacency of the entire political class.

George Brandis has ruled out repeal as a “fool’s errand”. And the Prime Minister says that union misconduct, budget repair, and marriage equality are more pressing issues for the government.

The real fool’s errand is the government’s attempt to pass off repeal of a bad law restricting free speech as a trivial distraction.

Civil societies tolerate what they cannot afford to punish — one reason why we don’t have silly rules prohibiting the ‘burkini’ on Aussie beaches — and punish what they can’t afford to tolerate.

Since we want to punish free speech, we can’t be willing to tolerate it. Loss of our appetite for free speech will mean that soon enough every other dish we turn to will taste of ash.

Politicians are convinced all that protects us from anarchy, disorder and decay are restrictions on free speech that can be — and are — used to stifle any discussion deemed offensive or provocative.

But what the political class — buoyed by some in the media — considers inappropriate seldom matches what ordinary people gathered in the pub watching the footy might think.

This is the discrepancy that has opened up between political and popular points of view and is symptomatic of a deeper crisis in our political culture.

Our politicians are trapped in a bubble of group solipsism where their own self-enforcing points of view are the only ones that count. So the heavy yoke of 18C continues to press across our shoulders.

Retaining restrictions on free speech will mean citizens are denied opportunities freely to express differences of opinions amongst themselves. This tears at the fabric of civil society.

We must depend upon a small band of 18C senate reformers to succeed so that the rest of us may be freed from subservience to speech that is not free but patrolled relentlessly in the name of equality.