Commentary The question, “Should there be limits to free speech?” is not controversial. This is because most people while recognising the importance of free speech in society, are attuned to the dangers that unrestricted free speech could inflict on unsuspecting victims. After a lifetime of teaching, researching, reading, and writing, my instinctive reaction to the question is that speech should ideally be free. This view is based on the idea that a society that limits free speech implicitly acknowledges its own weaknesses and is afraid to discuss or tolerate controversial and challenging ideas that might impact social harmony. Even though people might acknowledge the importance of free speech in a democracy, it is precisely through democratic means that the Parliament restricts free speech and fails to repeal laws that limit free speech. A good example in Australia is the inability of the Coalition government to repeal section 18C(1) of  the …