from politicoz ….

ABC chairman Jim Spigelman yesterday delivered a speech warning that the government's planned overhaul of discrimination law was going too far. The boundary between hate speech and free speech would be moved significantly, he declared, making it unlawful to merely offend or insult.

"Laws restricting hate speech should aim to protect people's dignity against assault," Spigelman said. "However, I do not believe that it should be the aim of these laws to prevent people from being offended ... The freedom to offend is an integral component of freedom of speech."

Spigelman's contribution is noteworthy, not only because he's an ABC chairman criticising his government. Spigelman, as well as being a former NSW chief justice, was a member of the Law Reform Commission, a former senior advisor and media department secretary under Whitlam, and even a participant in the 1965 Freedom Ride - in other words, no natural conservative.

In the wake of the uproar about the prank by two radio DJs, and its tragic, unforeseeable consequences, his words of caution come at an important moment.

“There is no right not to be offended.” Spigelman said.