This is the story of what happens when a free speech advocate attempts to use 18C to restrict what another person can say.  




In August 2016, Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm was interviewed on the ABC’s Insiders where he said offence is always taken, not given and if you don’t want to be offended by something that is up to you.




Fairfax journalist Mark Kenny happened to be watching that very interview and decided to test Leyonhjelm’s proposition to the fullest.




The result was a colourful 18C case that showed just how the law is working.

This is the story of what happens when a free speech advocate attempts to use 18C to restrict what another person can say.   In August 2016, Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm was interviewed on the ABC’s Insiders where he said offence is always taken, not given and if you don’t want to be offended by something that is up to you. Fairfax journalist Mark Kenny happened to be watching that very interview and decided to test Leyonhjelm’s proposition to the fullest. The result was a colourful 18C case that showed just how the law is working.

Just Words is an investigative series by 2SER 107.3FM,  where we go behind the hype and headlines of our race laws and get the true stories from those who have used the Racial Discrimination Act and those that have had it used against them.  

Section 18C is the part of the Racial Discrimination Act that makes it illegal to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate someone because of their race. So will removing 18C  really give people the right to be bigots?

An original 2SER podcast launches Monday 27th February 2017. The seven part series is hosted by Nic Healey. New episodes are released each week.

Just Words

This is the story of what happens when a free speech...