Australian Lawmakers Flag Changes to Racial Laws

Australia’s conservative opposition plans to repeal or amend racial discrimination laws that a right-wing commentator has breached by implying that fair-skinned Aborigines chose to identify as indigenous for profit.

Sen. George Brandis said Thursday that changes would be considered if columnist Andrew Bolt does not successfully appeal against a court ruling that his articles had illegally offended Aborigines.

A minister in a center-left government that introduced racial hatred laws in 1995, Gary Johns, says repeal would be sensible because the case shows the laws limit free speech.

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