Did Dutton’s anti-Muslim spray breach section 18C? by Marque Lawyers.

Pressed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to name the people he was referring to on Bolt’s program, Dutton said:

“The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second- and third-generation LebaneseMuslim background.” …

Did Dutton break the law? In terms of the Racial Discrimination Act (yes, 18C, I’m going there!), his statements in combination cannot but humiliate and intimidate Australians of LebaneseMuslim background. He has singled them out on racial/ethnic grounds.

Dutton’s statement in Parliament is privileged, meaning he is immune from legal claims in respect of it. …

It’s true that 22 Australians from Lebanese Muslim family backgrounds have been charged (not convicted) with terrorism offences, and that that is statistically disproportionate. However, can the conscious misuse of statistics qualify as bad faith? …

The bigger question however is not Dutton’s legal but his moral culpability. …

I’m just being honest, says Dutton. Just pointing to the facts. In this, he has the unwise backing of the Prime Minister. Extremely unwise, because we’re now on a very slippery slope.

Crazy anti-fact talk by a PC lawyer. Very chilling indeed, to think that a fool like this can influence your life. 18C has got to go, so it doesn’t give them an excuse.

hat-tip Andrew Bolt