95bFM Hipkins’ policy purge: Amnesty International on why hate speech reform must remain a priority
February 9, 2023
Amnesty International Aotearoa’s Campaigns Director Lisa Woods says current hate speech legislation is “falling short” of its purpose. Photo by Amnesty International Aotearoa. Photo: Amnesty International Aotearoa.
During his recent policy purge, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced that the government’s expansion of hate speech laws to protect religious groups from hatred and discrimination would be put on hold and instead referred to the Law Commission.
The proposed amendment bill would have made hate speech on the grounds of religious beliefs a crime.
Currently, there are only legal protections in place to protect people from hate-inciting speech on the basis of colour, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Labour has been working on an overhaul of the legislation since the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.
But in November last year, the government significantly watered down its hate speech reform, excluding other groups vulnerable to harmful speech such as women, the rainbow community, and people with disabilities from their initial legislation.
Amnesty International Aotearoa’s Campaigns Director Lisa Woods told Hanna Thompson on 95bFM’s The Wire that hate speech is a very dangerous type of speech that can create physical harm and have a “silencing effect”.
Woods argued that our current hate speech legislation in Aotearoa is “falling short” of its purpose to protect vulnerable groups who experience harmful speech.
“There are various groups of people that should be afforded protection against the incitement of hatred that are currently excluded for example, religious grounds, people's disabilities, people from the Rainbow community” says Woods.
“When individuals or groups are prevented from safely going about their lives because they can’t stand up for their rights and their interests, that is what has a hugely ‘chilling’ impact on society.
The expansion of hate speech legislation has been heavily criticised by the opposition, with the ACT Party calling them “divisive and dangerous”.
Hipkins expressed wanting to take a “step back” to reach a political consensus on the issue.
Woods said reforming hate speech laws is a balancing act between upholding freedom of expression and Aotearoa’s need to eliminate racism, violence and incitement of hatred.
“Freedom of expression is an important and fundamental human right. But there are other rights that are really important too, such as the right to non-discrimination.”
But Woods is concerned that it could “take a couple of years” before further progress is made.
“We're deeply concerned that the government isn't addressing this with urgency. When know from speaking to communities that should be covered that there is a genuine fear and genuine harm occurring.
Woods said reviewing incitement to hatred legislation must remain a priority and is calling on the Government to take urgent action to protect vulnerable groups from harm.
“Broader work needs to be done in terms of addressing racism and white supremacy, and the starting point here in Aotearoa must also be the full and proper recognition of Te Tiriti.”
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