PEOPLE do have a right to be bigots, you know. In a free country, people have rights to say things that other people find offensive, insulting or bigoted.
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The words of Attorney-General George Brandis in March last year are in rather stark contrast to how the conservatives now feel about freedom of speech.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretary Alan Tudge cancelled his appearance on the ABC’S Q&A program, lashing out at the program for allowing Zaky Mallah to appear last week.
Mr Tudge slammed the ABC’s decision to give a platform to Mallah, who has been convicted for threatening to kill Commonwealth officials, as well as threats to female politicians and journalists.
No one is going to defend the actions or words of Zaky Mallah. There are few that would not be offended by him, and many who would be repulsed.
But not so long ago, the conservatives were trying to defend a person’s right to say things that offend and insult.
The question must be asked — does that “right” to offend and insult apply to all of us, or just powerful conservative commentators?
Nonetheless, Mr Tudge’s boycott of Q&A makes him look like a petulant child who has packed his bat and ball and gone home.