One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she will push for a referendum to create a right to free speech that would make it harder for her widely condemned remarks about Muslims to fall foul of the law.
The anti-immigrant populist party has used online posts recently to falsely claim Labor’s post-Bondi hate crimes laws were being used by “political elites” to jail her over her statement that there were no “good” Muslims, directing supporters to a web page to sign up as One Nation members.
Labor’s changes did not alter anti-vilification laws targeting speech after the government dumped those proposals following an outcry from free speech advocates. Federal police confirmed they had received complaints after her remarks on Sky News on February 16, and police are assessing the reports.
Hanson’s spokesman said One Nation wanted to enshrine a constitutional right to free speech, requiring a referendum and the support of a majority of voters in a majority of states.
Unlike the US, Australia has no express right to free speech. The High Court has found that there is an implied restriction in the Constitution on the government’s power to prohibit discussion about political matters.
Read the full story from our chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.
