AP

Political Discrimination to be Outlawed?

It has just become public that it is likely that a private member’s bill will shortly be moved which is designed to outlaw political discrimination. Since politics is behind so much of the misery and conflict in the world, this is a much-needed bill, and worthy of support from all men, women, and LGBTQI+ people of good will.

The essence of the bill is that it shall become illegal for political parties to discriminate on the grounds of political opinions. This is to ensure that any persons who identify as of one political persuasion are not discriminated against should they wish to join a party of another political persuasion. All political opinions must be affirmed by all political parties.

If it comes to light that any political discrimination is alleged to have occurred, mediation will be provided by impartial bodies such as Anti-Discrimination Boards or even the Australian Human Rights Commission. If no resolution is reached after a second warning, any who remain recalcitrant will be sent to a re-education camp. After that, fines of $10,000 or five years’ gaol may apply.

Consensual debates are forbidden on the grounds that people in a democracy must not know their own minds. Encouraging a person of one political persuasion to vote for a party of a different political persuasion is also outlawed. A government leader has explained that ’People should not be discriminated against by political parties on the basis of their political identity. But freedom of political attachment is also affirmed.’

To achieve its outcomes, the bill has set out some clear parameters:

• The holding of political opinions are allowed within the confines of one’s own head.
• Around the family dinner table, it will remain legal for political opinions to be expressed, in a winsome way, for five minutes.
• If someone is offended, the one who has done the offending will be charged with harassment and/or hate speech. The offended person will be state-subsidised through legal aid while the offender will be liable to all legal costs.
• At all times the behaviour of the parliament will be used as a model for how such a bill could work in practice.
• A time period of a week and a half will be set aside to gauge public opinion on this very important expression of the democratic process. All responses will be treated as confidential, but must come with your tax file number and your MyGov password.

– Peter Barnes