Clarifying the Protective Purpose of s 18C: An Interests-Based Analysis of Australia's Racial Vilification Laws

This thesis examines the nature and purpose of the racial vilification laws in the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (RDA). Commonly, vilification laws seek to maintain public order and serve broad public purposes. However, the RDA provisions are distinct in that they seek to protect the interests of members of groups targeted by vilification. Specifically, they seek to protect personal dignity and autonomy. This has significant implications, in terms of the political legitimacy of the provisions, how they should be interpreted by courts, and what forms of redress should be available for victims of vilification