Kirralie Smith’s punishment by way of a $95,000 damages order for correctly identifying the gender of a man playing soccer on a women’s team is unjust and is the result of the cowardice of the Liberal and Labor parties, according to Family First.
Family First National Director, Lyle Shelton*, said the weaponisation of so-called vilification laws by LGBTIQA+ political activists had destroyed freedom of speech and made Australia unsafe for girls and women.
“Liberal and Labor politicians do not have the courage to repeal bad laws which have resulted in today’s farcical punishment of a good woman who has done nothing wrong.”
The New South Wales Local District Court also ordered Ms Smith to issue a public apology.
She has said she will appeal.
Mr Shelton re-affirmed Family First’s pledge to fight for the repeal of subjective anti-free speech clauses in Australia’s regime of anti-discrimination and anti-vilification laws.
“Incitement of violence should be where ‘hate speech’ laws begin and end. No one should be able to sue their fellow Australian for hurt feelings.
“Public debate is where disagreements over public policy should be thrashed out, not in court where certain identity groups are empowered to silence speech they hate.
“The findings against Kirralie are unAustralian and every politician should be making it their utmost priority to repeal the laws which allow such a miscarriage of justice.
“But because they lack courage, Family First will be standing candidates at up-coming elections in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
“Politicians who do not fight for free speech must be replaced,” Mr Shelton said.
* Mr Shelton is the chairman of the Binary board.
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