The Free Speech Façade: Abbott's High Court Gamble Tony Abbott's decision to back Pauline Hanson's bid to appeal a court ruling on racial vilification has reignited debate about Australia's hate speech laws.
On its surface, the issue appears to be a straightforward matter of free speech versus government regulation.
However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that this is a complex web of competing interests and ideologies. The Racial Discrimination Act, section 18C, has been contentious for years.