he new laws “do not affect lawful advocacy, protest or dissent”.’ As long as no one says their feelings are disturbed

Mary Kostakidis

@MaryKostakidis

Among other advice, Prof Luke McNamara, an expert in law addressing racism, told the SMH ‘“It’s right to be concerned that the media, or some portions of the media, that engage these new laws, deploy them for their own purposes, which may not produce prosecutions ... but they can certainly contribute to demonisation of particular communities.”’ I’d add individuals. The MSM - not necessarily the Murdoch press - will be happy to maule you to assist in your denouncement as an antisemite (as this same masthead did to Randa Abdel Fattah and myself), but yes, the Muslim community is targeted virtually daily in the Murdoch press. ‘A spokesperson for Rowland said the new laws “do not affect lawful advocacy, protest or dissent”.’ As long as no one says their feelings are disturbed. Because then you can be deemed to be spreading ‘hatred’ ‘radicalising’ people and ‘disrupting social cohesion’. But the AG’s spokesperson explains groups have no need to worry no need to worry because ‘“Criticism of a foreign country or of that country’s government is not sufficient to meet the thresholds for listing.”’. And this discussion can go on in a circular fashion forever, because if someone feels threatened, that is a problem. If someone claims the criticism is inciting extremists or people with a mental illness who might then take action, that is a problem. What I think has been achieved in fact is the criminalisation of 18c - criminal penalties if someone claims you have hurt their feelings, but it is far worse because of the other provisions in this law - a reversal of the onus of proof, the fact the person doesn’t even have to exist (note the wording of the law in this regard is a reasonable person ‘would be’ not is), the extraordinary power it bestows on whoever happens to be in the position of a couple of office holder politicians, with an opinion from the spy chief, and no procedural fairness. Does this law even make clear to us what we can and cannot say? Lawyers are still trying to work it out. Rife for a High Court challenge. Suggest you all read the Legislation. Link below also.

1:14 PM · Jan 28, 2026

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