With Tim Soutphommasane set to finish with his post of Racial Discrimination on August 17, there are calls for the role to be left vacant.

Some say the role has an inadvertently counterproductive and self-defeating impact when it comes to weeding out discrimination. The argument being mounted is that it fuels divisiness and racial segregation, rather than remedying it.

This has lead Morgan Begg from the Institute of Public Affairs to call for the roll to be left unfilled with Soutphommasane’s departure.

“We don’t need this divisive role,” says Begg.

“Between 1999 and 2004, the role was left vacant and was filled in an acting capacity by the other commissioners. There is no reason that can’t happen again.”

“I would argue there is no compulsion legally speaking on the government to fill the position.”

It’s thought the $346,000 taxpayer funded role could dissolve without effect. That is to say if the job vanished tomorrow, nobody would know the difference.

“That’s  because the role serves no substantive function. It is merely to pester the people, to tell people that they’re too racist, or too tell businesses that their board rooms are too white.”

“So let’s give the money to the farmers or someone who needs it,” says Michael McLaren.

“It could be the first step in a long game that ends with the complete dissolve of the Australian Human Rights Commission.”

With&nbsp;Tim Soutphommasane&nbsp;set to finish with his post of Racial Discrimination on August 17, there are calls for the role to be left vacant.
Some say the role has an inadvertently counterproductive and self-defeating impact when it comes to weeding out discrimination. The argument being mounted is that it fuels divisiness and racial segregation, rather than remedying it.
This has lead Morgan Begg from the Institute of Public Affairs to call for the roll to be left unfilled with Soutphommasane&rsquo;s departure.
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t need this divisive role,&rdquo; says Begg.
&ldquo;Between 1999 and 2004, the role was left vacant and was filled in an acting capacity by the other commissioners. There is no reason that can&rsquo;t happen again.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I would argue there is no compulsion legally speaking on the government to fill the position.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s thought the $346,000 taxpayer funded role could dissolve without effect. That is to say if the job vanished tomorrow, nobody would know the difference.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s&nbsp;&nbsp;because the role serves no substantive function. It is merely to pester the people, to tell people that they&rsquo;re too racist, or too tell businesses that their board rooms are too white.&rdquo;
&ldquo;So let&rsquo;s give the money to the farmers or someone who needs it,&rdquo; says Michael McLaren.
&ldquo;It could be the first step in a long game that ends with the complete dissolve of the Australian Human Rights Commission.&rdquo;

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.

Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.
Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

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