As long as this standard is applied to kids of ALL RACIAL GROUPS (including white kids who use such language toward minorities) I say fine!

I didn't agree with this case ever going to court in the first place; however I do agree with you Frank. As long as the same standard is applied to ALL races, then it's fine, but we all know that this won't be the case.

I've never understood the point of race-hate crimes as distinct from other crimes. As though committing a crime from racial motives is somehow worse than committing a crime for other bad motives (like that you just hate the guy, period).

I do believe the case should have went to court due to the vandalism to the car and the threatening behaviour of the perpetrators. However, I have to wonder who is the TRUE victim group of racial abuse in Australia when terms like 'white slut' are dismissed as mere common street talk.

In my view these racial villification laws were essentially enacted to silence white nationalists not to punish aboriginal racists; from the above article:

'The girl was 15 when in May she became the first person in the state to be charged under tough racial vilification laws brought in after white supremacists terrorised Perth with a racist poster and graffiti campaign.'

Apparently the posting of 'racist' posters criticising multiculturalism and protected groups (Read: Minorities) is a form of 'terrorism' in Australia!? I am sure the graffiti could have been punished under applicable trespass, harassment and even vandalism laws so I am under the impression these laws were created to silence white nationalists. Of course this is merely my humble view on the matter.

I suspect it's to do with politicians currying favour.

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"There were no D-Day Heroes in 1973" - Cold Chisel Khe Sanh