Have Your Say

Limitless free speech can have a high price

Matt Carr
Updated January 15 2021 - 10:28pm, first published 8:00am
Limitless free speech can have a high price
Limitless free speech can have a high price

FREE speech is undoubtedly a cornerstone value of a functioning democracy. Some folk, erroneously in my view, choose to interpret this as anything goes. There must always be limits, boundaries and rules that provide the social scaffolding around which free speech can operate. That's why the laws of defamation exist, why you can't tell the referee or umpire what you really think of their decision or (as allegedly happened at the cricket Test match in Sydney) make certain comments about Indian cricketers.

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Matt Carr

Matt Carr

Newcastle Herald deputy editor

Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.

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