Indigenous Coalition MP Ken Wyatt has spoken out against the repeal of legislation making it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the grounds of race or ethnicity.
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Mr Wyatt told Fairfax Media he fears that repealing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act would disempower the vulnerable or result in a hardening of intolerant attitudes.
''Australia has come a long way in the last 30 or 40 years and what I wouldn't like to see is a regression that allows those who have bigoted viewpoints to vilify any group of people at all,'' he said.
His remarks came as Attorney-General George Brandis described the existing law as ''extremely invasive'' and reaffirmed the government's intention to ''do away'' with it.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised to ''repeal section 18C in its current form'' in August 2012 on the basis that freedom of speech should not be restrained ''just to prevent hurt feelings''.
Ethnic, religious and indigenous groups and leaders have urged the government to think again.
