PROMINENT local Aboriginal leader Gerry Moore has welcomed the news the federal government has taken contentious changes to racial discrimination laws “off the table”, saying it’s an example of people power making a difference.
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“As an individual I’m really pleased with the government’s decision not to proceed in altering the Racial Discrimination Act, section 18C,” he said.
“Public opinion does matter".
“It’s a credit to all who stood up to be counted, all of those who put in submissions, and to the government that they’ve taken notice of those submissions.
“It shows the weight of public opposition does really matter. When enough people stand up and be counted that can only be good for us, if it’s for the right reasons.
“I think a quote from John F. Kennedy is appropriate – ‘The constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress’.
“That is really important, that we as humanity stand up for each other.
“It means we have to work with government. We know they have to make the hard decisions and ask the hard questions but we also know they need to take notice of the public opinion and that’s what has happened in this case.”
