'Hate' is subjective: whether speech or crime
Dear Minister Goldsmith,
'Hate' is an important term referencing a powerful emotion. Where individuals in our society are targets of hate, we must work to counter this hate and promote tolerance and inclusiveness.
'Hate' is a powerful term, but an unavoidably subjective one; this is true whether it is used against word or action.
It is not the role of our criminal justice system or laws more generally to regulate this emotion.
We have insisted that 'hate' speech laws would simply introduce a means to censor unpopular opinions. We applaud your decision to stop work on these proposals.
'Hate' crime laws suffer from the same weaknesses and have no place in a liberal democracy that values freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the rule of law.
Introducing 'hate' crime laws would see police and the judiciary tasked with deciding if one individual acted more criminally than another despite breaking the very same law, based on their motivations not their actions.
We have no interest in defending criminal actions. If an individual breaks the law, they must be held accountable. But the law must apply impartially, regardless of who breaks it. There aren't 'right' reasons to break the law, or reasons that are 'more wrong' than others.
Breaking the law for 'hate' shouldn't stand alone as a category any more than breaking the law for 'love'. Who is impartial enough to determine objectively when either of these would apply?
Keep our laws impartial, the rule of law strong, and our speech and consciences free.
We call on Hon. Paul Goldsmith, the Minister of Justice, to reject all advice to develop 'hate' crime legislation that would introduce unacceptable subjectivity into our laws, and be used to target unpopular perspectives and unorthodox beliefs.
Like this to spread the word
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Ojan Mohammadzadehkhoey signed 2024-04-17 22:22:13 +1200If an act is a crime then the emotions of the criminal committing it is irrelevant.
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Susan Muir signed 2024-04-17 22:09:07 +1200
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Herman Veluwenkamp signed 2024-04-17 20:35:19 +1200
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Shea Synott signed 2024-04-17 20:21:39 +1200
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Jackie Collin signed 2024-04-17 20:10:45 +1200
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Lionel Kemp signed 2024-04-17 20:06:15 +1200
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Ken Burroughs signed 2024-04-17 18:58:59 +1200Hate speech laws are just another form of censorship – no thank you!
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Claire Melrose signed 2024-04-17 16:52:20 +1200
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Dan Wilkes signed 2024-04-17 16:39:50 +1200Law based on subjective arguements is neither balanced nor fair, it opens the door to vexatious misuse of the legal system.
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David Easton signed 2024-04-17 15:54:59 +1200
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John Taylor signed 2024-04-17 14:08:51 +1200
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Cliff Tuckey signed 2024-04-17 13:37:37 +1200
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Waaka Nene Jnr Rountree signed 2024-04-17 13:23:36 +1200
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Chris Wilkins signed 2024-04-17 12:15:04 +1200
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Leslie Embling signed 2024-04-17 09:56:12 +1200
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Sylvia Roberyson signed 2024-04-17 09:51:52 +1200
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Grant Sutton signed 2024-04-17 09:27:12 +1200All of History testifies to the absolute fact that in the absence of freedom of speech there is no freedom at all.
We live in age where eliminating anyone expressing an opposing view has become fashionable again …with its proponents being the first to hypocritically shout they are defenders of tolerance.
There can be no progress without the exchange of ideas. -
Paul Jenness signed 2024-04-17 09:10:54 +1200I can see your proposed legislation being used in a form to basically outlaw anything YOU don’t like. If I were to speak about GOD’s salvation and in turn the punishment for not taking his gift then I would be deemed to have committed hate speech. Trust me, it will be used like this and YOU will have allowed it.
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Tim Dickson signed 2024-04-17 08:27:46 +1200
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Glenn Brogden signed 2024-04-17 08:21:54 +1200
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David Henry signed 2024-04-17 08:02:37 +1200Freedom of speech is fundamental in a demographic society
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Norman Leslie signed 2024-04-17 07:58:22 +1200
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Joy Moore signed 2024-04-17 07:50:46 +1200
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Tracy Donaldson signed 2024-04-17 07:26:25 +1200
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Dawn Astin signed 2024-04-17 06:52:22 +1200
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Leighton Packer signed 2024-04-17 05:55:23 +1200
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Malcolm Butler signed 2024-04-17 05:07:55 +1200
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Marian Spencer signed 2024-04-16 23:21:04 +1200
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Shelley Harwood signed 2024-04-16 23:17:00 +1200
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Maria Sorenson signed 2024-04-16 22:04:06 +1200
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