'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.
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Teresa Irving signed 2024-04-10 16:41:00 +1200
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Paul Butler signed 2024-04-10 16:40:52 +1200
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Melanie Norton signed 2024-04-10 16:40:30 +1200
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Greg Sheehan signed 2024-04-10 16:40:19 +1200Who determines what is hate, and what isn’t? Totally subjective depending on point of view and perhaps political motives. Plenty of proof already in Scotland and the UK.
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Roberta Budvietas signed 2024-04-10 16:40:12 +1200There are 2 sides to every statement.
Taking things personally is one of the hardest things not to do, especially when feelings, insecurity and victim/martyrdom are the norm for stressed people or people suffering overload, mental problems, depression and just overload -
George Powrie signed 2024-04-10 16:39:09 +1200No rule for one ,different for another
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Lovell Greybe signed 2024-04-10 16:39:06 +1200
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Maryanne White signed 2024-04-10 16:38:53 +1200
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Marcus Frean signed 2024-04-10 16:38:48 +1200A crime is a crime is a crime, but one person’s ‘hate’ is not another’s. Feelings of hurt are too subjective for a legal system to make fair use of in determining a crime, and no amount of alternate wordings can improve that. I love Scotland, but let’s not make the same mistake here.
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Jasmine Brown signed 2024-04-10 16:38:42 +1200
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John Lister signed 2024-04-10 16:38:31 +1200
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Nick Jackman signed 2024-04-10 16:38:25 +1200
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Stephen Moore signed 2024-04-10 16:38:22 +1200
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Taunaha Smith signed 2024-04-10 16:38:12 +1200
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Owen Cleverton signed 2024-04-10 16:38:12 +1200
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John Baker signed 2024-04-10 16:36:51 +1200
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Colin Hodgkinson signed 2024-04-10 16:36:41 +1200
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Jim Creak signed 2024-04-10 16:36:28 +1200
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Johanne Robinson signed 2024-04-10 16:35:47 +1200Thankyou for your work
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Mary Gibson signed 2024-04-10 16:35:24 +1200
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Heather Reid signed 2024-04-10 16:35:22 +1200
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Marilynn Johnson signed 2024-04-10 16:35:17 +1200
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Sheren Keen signed 2024-04-10 16:34:59 +1200
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Tim Mahoney signed 2024-04-10 16:34:54 +1200
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Russell Smith signed 2024-04-10 16:34:43 +1200
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John Vercoe signed 2024-04-10 16:34:41 +1200
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Allan Head signed 2024-04-10 16:34:34 +1200
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Brian Damon signed 2024-04-10 16:34:28 +1200
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Nevil van der Heyden signed 2024-04-10 16:34:24 +1200
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Gordon Macintyre signed 2024-04-10 16:34:05 +1200
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