Pirate Congress 2021/Motions/Policy and Platform/18C-preamble

PM-4 New 18C Position Statement
Put By: John August

Motion
Adopt the following as PS-2021-01 to the exclusion of PS-2020-02:

The Pirate Party position is to, overall, encourage personal freedom and support individuals. Our progressive policies include comprehensive support for Public Education, Public Health (including Mental Health), and also Universal Basic Income.

It taking action on 18C, it is not our intention to side with shock jocks and others who challenge 18C as part of an overall uncaring attitude to the world. Rather, our vision is where minorities and other groups are established and supported in other ways, so that protection through means like 18C becomes more clearly unnecessary.

Some who criticise 18C talk in vague terms about how "minorities and others would be supported in other ways", but never go into details. The Pirate position about 18C forms part of a cohesive policy package which is overall supportive, and does not just pay lip service to these "other things" that are presumed to be happening, but are conveniently left out by "mainstream" right wing critics of 18C.

Rationale
While our position on 18C can be readily misunderstood, and even in the absence of this preamble, could still be by those grinding a superficial axe, this preamble helps establish our position more clearly for anyone who cares to look. Further, it might act to positively undermine false claims made about us, and therefore undermine the overall credibility of that critic or article. The exact wording is open to debate, particularly depending on what position we end up taking. But I am hopeful that regardless of whether it is adopted or not, it serves as a good catalyst for discussion.

Results
Passed on the floor of Congress; proceeds to the full party membership for ratification.