*Pics: ABC pics of George Brandis (top) and Graeme Innes.
Outgoing disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes has fired a barrage of parting shots at the Abbott government, declaring it may be time for him to move on because he has ”no stomach to advocate for the rights of bigots”.
Mr Innes’ remarks, made during an address to the National Press Club, are a direct rebuke to Attorney-General George Brandis, who while speaking on the Coalition’s proposed changes to race hate laws earlier this year, said: ”people do have a right to be bigots, you know.” ( here ).
Mr Innes said on Wednesday he could not understand why at a time when the nation was seeking to recognise indigenous Australians in the constitution, it would be changing laws to reduce their protection from racial vilification.
He also rejected Senator Brandis’ criticism of the Australian Human Rights Commission, that it had been too narrowly focused on its anti-discrimination work and had not done enough to promote ”liberal rights” such as freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of religion.
”What the Attorney doesn’t take into account when he makes that comment is that all of the legislation which the commission administers is anti-discrimination legislation… the best way frankly for the Attorney to provide the commission with the greater capacity to deal with the freedoms he talks about would be to put forward legislation for a charter of rights,” he said.
Mr Innes rejected as ”facile” the Abbott government’s use of the ”Ming Dynasty concept” of ”lifters” and ”leaners” to describe those who contribute to the economy and those who depend upon the state.”We all move from one role to the other dozens of times a day,” he said.
He said many people with disabilities wanted to contribute more but were kept out of the workforce by discrimination.
• Graeme Innes, Fairfax: If we’re not lifters, it’s because society forces us to be leaners
MEANWHILE, elsewhere …
• CBA financial planning scandal: Senator David Bushby was missing at crucial hearing
• Josie Young, in Comments: Christian values, compassion, charity, loving thy neighbour, doing unto others, assisting the poor etc. – these are things that Christian people are supposed to do. Unfortunately, they are not the same things that many supposed Christians (such as the Prime Minister) actually do.
• Fairfax: Train racist targeted kids: ‘Get your f-ing bogan children off the seat’
• Carolyn Canterbury, in Comments: David Bushby is a disgrace and his defence of an evil bank and non-attendance at Senate Committee hearings when bank victims were cross-examined suggest he is not fit to represent Tasmania in the Senate. The Liberal Party should dis-endorse him.
