Hate speech investigation

By KEVIN TAYLOR

A parliamentary inquiry into hate speech will look at whether more legislation is needed.

Parliament's Government administration committee announced the inquiry yesterday and called for public submissions. It will consider:

* Whether further legislation to prohibit or restrain hate speech is warranted.

* Whether restraining or prohibiting such speech would be a justified limitation of rights and freedoms under the Bill of Rights Act.

* Whether censorship of material that vilifies certain groups would be a justified limitation of rights and freedoms in the Bill of Rights Act.

* A threshold test for prohibiting or restraining hate speech.

* Steps taken overseas to control hate speech.

Committee chairwoman and Labour MP Dianne Yates said the inquiry was sparked after submissions on hate speech were made to the committee in relation to the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill.

"It's a fairly intellectual debate about where that balance is between freedom of speech and whether what you say will be injurious to someone in society."