Tim Wilson starts role as Human Rights Commissioner

Tim Wilson starts role as Human Rights Commissioner
Image: Tim Wilson from the IPA unloads on activists

OPENLY-gay former policy director of the Institute of Public Affairs Tim Wilson today begins his role as Australian Human Rights Commissioner, following his controversial appointment in December.

Wilson is an advocate of ending discrimination in marriage laws for same-sex couples and of an increased focus on freedom of speech in human rights discourse.

In an opinion piece for The Australian newspaper published today Wilson argued a “social justice perspective” is just one way to approach human rights, and that as Human Rights Commissioner he would be taking a “classical liberal perspective” with a focus on individual freedoms.

He also highlighted his opposition to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act on the grounds it placed “unnecessary restrictions on free speech”. Section 18C achieved public notoriety when News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt was found to have breached it in a column about “fair-skinned” Indigenous Australians.

Attorney-General George Brandis’ announcement of Wilson’s appointment late last year provoked outcry from sections of the LGBTI and broader communities, who criticised the decision.

Opponents of the move cited the Institute of Public Affairs’ calls for the Human Rights Commission to be abolished. While the calls were not personally attributed to Wilson, they came while he was serving as the IPA’s Policy Director.

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8 responses to “Tim Wilson starts role as Human Rights Commissioner”

  1. Tim’s snarky yet racist comments on Lateline insulted me as a Liberal supporter with a gay relative.

    I would assume that he represents the old far right Anglo White Australia policy crowd and their dark conscience.

    I wonder how they would feel the next time they went to a restaurant and were told to leave politely as the migrant owner found them Insulting as patrons for being Ugly Anglo Aussies??

    Reverse racism would be quite amusing for a Seinfeld political class that’s about nothing really in hollow rhetoric.

    How suave the polite racism is amongst the middle classes with their sophisticated arrogance and pretentious

    Im not fooled at all dear sirs…I saw your mob at University with a white middle class friendship group only and token “Hot” ethnics thrown in for good measure.

    Selfish and shallow just like this absurd appointment of an Uncle Tom .

    If only we had the integrity of Mr Fraser and his esteemed colleague Mr Petros Georgiou

    Sigh.

  2. Haters going to Hate….

    This very simplistic term that Wilson uses to justify his lack of support for defending gay/minority rights is cute , cruel and convenient.

    Is it any wonder that there is animosity towards him in the gay community?

    Absurd to not defend your own identity Tim because you have partisan links with conservative political organisations and corporate interests.

    Get out in the real world and see the damage that you will bring to vulnerable groups.

    Disturbing scenario for Human Rights.

    Classic liberal needs to get liberal with opening your own heart Timmy.

    You have dark corporate secrets in YOUR heart!

    You’re the paid hater here for $325, 000 at our tax payers expense.

    We live in a society not a corporate utopian world like Timmy.

    If Money buys love Tim…you’re a corporate prostitute.

  3. Tim despite being a smart guy is the most overated brutish and arrogant snob in politics

    Sydney would suit him quite well in that respect.

    Liberals in Melbourne aren’t fanatical about free markets like he is.

    I hope he watched Ms Lagarde on q and a this week.

    Smart, humble empathetic and promotes investment in public health and education unlike Tim’s extremist agenda which isn’t healthy at all.

    Enjoy the bumpy narcissistic ride Tim.

    We will be keep a close watch on you!

  4. I’m perturbed yet not surprised at how The Liberal organization choose their “people”

    Not a very decent vetting procedure with individuals having no experience in their respective field

    How do we know Tim is decent and not a creepy idiot….

    Smirk

    The worst appointment thus far in my opinion of a gay boy trapped in a nasty man’s world.

    Take everything he says with a grain of salt…

    Not a good gay role model in my opinion at all.

    Brandis you are a very funny man indeed.

  5. The title should really be this…

    Tim starts his new role to find a loophole for repealing the racial discrimination act for Andrew Bolt.

    Liberals hold grudges and Mr Bolt et al wants Tim to do their dirty work for him

    Simple.

    He gives a new meaning to the word “sucking up to the establishment” by allowing gays to be discriminated against.

    Uncle Tom here.

    Brutish snotty attitude doesn’t help him either with that snippet on Lateline where he displayed his own “polite” racist comment.

    Narrow minded philosophical ideas are dangerous when applied in the real world..that poor gay kid will be abused by that racist d….head and god forbid they’re drunk as well…violence ensues

    That’s a freedom you can’t control.

    Tim..it’s going to be a very bumby ride with you and the public .

    Good luck..you’re going to need it with those extremist viewpoints

  6. What a crock, just because he is gay you laud him. Did you see his interview on Lateline? Well maybe you should.

    Tim Wilson (one of seven commissioners of the AHRC) on Lateline just said he believes that private schools have the right to discriminate whereas public schools don’t.

    @13m40s

    “EMMA ALBERICI: But can I just get you to clarify that? Does that mean they should be able to discriminate in a private school, for instance, but not in a government school?

    TIM WILSON: Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. I think private schools and private institutions that are established and operate independently have a right to go about their organisation as they see fit and they do that …

    A. HUMAN. RIGHTS. COMMISSIONER.

    No one has the right to discriminate, including private schools receiving public funding.

  7. I can’t believe he said that he would allow his partner to be discriminated against in a religious school based on his philosophical principles.

    Thats crazy and disturbing Tim.

    Human rights have been purchased by corporate rights.

  8. It is clear the LNP does not value human rights, to install someone with such little qualifications and experience. An example is the free speech argument Tim Wilson carries on about. I put it to Tim, what chance does a young same-sex person have, growing up in a one paper town, when the editor takes a disliking to their sexuality or race? Tim seems to be about some people having more free speech then others. The Bairnsdale Advertiser recently ran an editorial saying transgenderedism is child abuse. We are the poorer when we accept vilification laws are not important. That some of us require protection from the powerful. What next will Mr Abbott do, appoint his daughter to a senior role?

    An advocate of human rights, able make effective change, is not what I see in Mr Wilson.