Tremain, Garrick, 1941- : Select Committee, Hate Speech, Free Speech. Otago Daily Times, 18 March 2005.

A hooded figure labelled "Select Committee" simultaneously shoots a man wearing army surplus gear labelled "Hate Speech", and another in a suit called "Free Speech", through their heads with the same bullet. Refers to the debate about whether New Zealand should have a 'Hate speech' law. A Human Rights Commission Inquiry into Hate Speech has been set up to investgate the question. As Australian Justice Michael Kirby states: "It is necessary for the law to achieve an equilibrium, apt to a democratic society, between freedom of expression and freedom from the harmful effects of unrestricted falsehoods." So where should the balance be struck here? The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights allows states to prohibit advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. As other covenants have done, this balances absolute freedom of expression by appealing to other basic and universal human rights such as non-discrimination and equality.

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