Sign our online petition today to protect your freedom

Free speech – a vital element of our democracy – is facing extinction.

Most people would agree that having the freedom to speak your mind is synonymous with a well-functioning, free and democratic society.

It’s one of the central principles which sets western civilisation apart from restrictive regimes like those in China, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba.

And yet, like never before, the unthinkable is increasingly happening: free speech is being infringed upon by minority groups, elites, public policy and virtue signalling organisations.

Look no further than the now famous case of Israel Folau – the latest in a long line of those who have has lost their job, their livelihood, their entire career...  all for speaking out.

Professor Peter Ridd, three Queensland University of Technology students (Alex Wood, Calum Thwaites and Jackson Powell), the late Bill Leak and Julian Porteous are just some who have paid the price. The rise in the weaponisation 18C* of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 means that your free speech in under atttack. 

Mark my words: Our nation is at a crossroads. 

Most Australians will tell you everyone should have the right of free speech. As a democratic nation, we also support a person’s right to agree or disagree. Both rights are an essential part of our culture and tradition, foundational to our values and our freedoms.

But the politically correct brigade is increasingly bullying our society into abiding by their code of conduct – enforcing what’s “socially acceptable” by their standards, and publicly punishing dissenters. 

Make no mistake – it’s calculated; they’re making an example of Folau, Professor Peter Ridd and others. The bedrock of their scare campaign is the underlying, unspoken  threat: “This is what will happen to you if you dare defy us”.

Friend, either we stand up and demand a fair go for free speech now or we watch it go to ruin, case by case. 

If you believe everyone should be free to speak their mind without fear of job loss or a fine, defend free speech today by signing our petition supporting Israel Folau’s right to quote a book without being sacked.

You’ll find the ‘Save Free Speech’ petition online at advanceaustralia.org.au/save_free_speech. By adding your name to this online petition today, you’ll help draw a line in the sand to protect your freedom of speech.

*18C is a blocker of free speech; an overarching catch-all law which effectively makes it unlawful to “offend”. Given “offense” is entirely subjective, 18C has disastrous repercussions for free speech; enabling anyone who feels offended on the basis of a minority characteristic to land their “offender” in court.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975

18C  Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin

             (1)  It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:

                     (a)  the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and

                     (b)  the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.

Note: Subsection (1) makes certain acts unlawful. Section 46P of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 allows people to make complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission about unlawful acts. However, an unlawful act is not necessarily a criminal offence. Section 26 says that this Act does not make it an offence to do an act that is unlawful because of this Part, unless Part IV expressly says that the act is an offence.

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), an act is taken not to be done in private if it:

                     (a)  causes words, sounds, images or writing to be communicated to the public; or

                     (b)  is done in a public place; or

                     (c)  is done in the sight or hearing of people who are in a public place.

             (3)  In this section:

public place includes any place to which the public have access as of right or by invitation, whether express or implied and whether or not a charge is made for admission to the place.