Use of section 18C is out of hand, says Tony Abbott, by Hedley Thomas.

Tony Abbott has declared that the use of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to stifle free speech is getting “out of hand’’ as criticism surrounding the lodging of a complaint about a provocative cartoon by Bill Leak mounted. …

The Human Rights Commission wrote to The Australian’s lawyers this month to advise that allegations of “racial hatred under the Racial Discrimination Act” regarding the August 4 cartoon would be investigated.

It followed a complaint being lodged by a person identified as Melissa Dinnison, who alleged she had “experienced racial hatred” and discrimination as a result of the cartoon.