The outspoken Liberal National party backbencher George Christensen has attacked a proposal by Labor to introduce a new parliamentary code of race ethics to counterbalance the return of One Nation, branding the concept “politically correct social engineering”.
Guardian Australia revealed on Wednesday that Bill Shorten has asked Malcolm Turnbull to ask government MPs to sign up to the proposed parliamentary code, which covers eight principles of tolerance and inclusion, but Christensen said he wasn’t interested.
“I haven’t seen it but it sounds like a politically correct, socially engineering thing that led to the rise of Pauline Hanson in first place,” Christensen said.
Christensen’s rebuff follows an internal debate in government ranks about the political perils of embracing Hansonism, with the Victorian Liberal backbencher Russell Broadbent criticising some colleagues in the last parliamentary sitting week – including Christensen – for “cuddling up to Hansonite rhetoric”.
Christensen slapped back, declaring Broadbent a “politically correct hand-wringer” and a member of an “elitist set” in Canberra who failed to respond to the feelings of their constituents.
The debate about the code of race ethics comes as Labor has launched a public petition against watering down the Racial Discrimination Act, aiming to collect 20,000 signatures before the conclusion of the parliamentary year.
Shorten wrote to supporters on Wednesday arguing that public pressure would be critical to seeing off a renewed campaign to overhaul section 18C of the act.
The petition’s launch follows a media campaign launched by Labor over the past week targeting Arabic, Jewish, Chinese and Indian news outlets.
Labor’s messaging comes in response to significant pushback from ethnic, religious and racial minority groups. Jewish, Muslim, Indigenous and Arab organisations, among others, have issued a statement saying they are “deeply concerned” that changes to section 18C will send a signal that racism is acceptable in Australia.
A renewed campaign by government conservatives and the Australian newspaper has sparked a fresh parliamentary inquiry into the act, examining whether sections 18C and 18D impose unreasonable restrictions on free speech.
It will also examine whether the complaints-handling procedures of the Human Rights Commission should be reformed.
Section 18C says it is unlawful for a person to do an act in public which is “reasonably likely, in all the circumstances to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate” another person or a group of people. Section 18D makes exceptions for artistic works, discussions, debates, event reports in the public interest and fair comment if it is in “expression of a genuine belief” held by the person making the comment.
Shorten told supporters in an email sent Wednesday the community needed to rally to send the government a message against watering down hate speech protections.
“Last time the Liberals tried to water down racial discrimination laws was two years ago under Tony Abbott,” Shorten said. “Here’s how communities reacted: Australians from dozens of different cultural backgrounds walked together in solidarity. They called it the walk for respect.
“With such strong community opposition, Tony Abbott backed down. Now, we must raise our voices again, so that Turnbull does the same.”
