This submission to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice Inquiry into racial vilification laws in NSW draws on PIAC’s extensive casework experience in discrimination law. PIAC believes that racial vilification laws are important to provide for substantive equality for those individuals and groups who are most affected by discrimination and racial vilification in NSW. PIAC’s submission focuses on areas relevant to PIAC’s expertise and experience. PIAC has specific expertise and casework experience relating to the civil provisions of s 20C of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), and our submission focuses on s 20C, rather than on the criminal provisions of s 20D. PIAC recommends that s 20C of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) is retained to reflect our international human rights obligations, and that a general limitations clause is considered.
