By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen

Photo: George Brandis says the changes extend the reach of anti-discrimination laws to an unacceptable level. (Getty: Sergio Dionisio, file photo)

Related Story: Christian lobby rejects move to change exemptions

Shadow attorney-general George Brandis has described the Federal Government's overhaul of anti-discrimination laws as an ideologically-driven campaign that could be used to shut down controversial debates.

The Government has put forward plans to consolidate different anti-discrimination laws, in an effort to simplify what is considered unacceptable and how to deal with it.

Senator Brandis says the changes are too broad and extend the reach of anti-discrimination laws to an unacceptable level.

"When you drill down into this bill, what it really amounts to at its extreme reach is a law against controversy," he told ABC Local Radio.

"What this bill says is that if I claim to be offended by something somebody else says, I have a legal right to take them to court."

A Senate committee is examining the proposed changes with hearings due to begin this week. The inquiry has received almost 600 submissions.

Australia's largest media organisations, including the ABC, Fairfax and News Limited, have made a joint submission arguing against the inclusion of material that "offends or insults" in the anti-discrimination provisions.

It says many media organisations publish or broadcast material that some members of the public will find offensive at times, ranging from satirical programming to political commentary.

"Whilst these, and similar topics, may be offensive or insulting to some viewers, this does not make them discriminatory," the media organisations argue.

"Rather, the inclusion of such content within the national conversation is essential for fostering robust social and political debate, and therefore to ensuring a healthy democracy."

'Code of conduct'

In an opinion piece published earlier this month, Attorney-General Nicola Roxon rejected suggestions the new laws would ban offensive conduct.

She also accused some people of using the feedback process to launch a "vicious campaign" against existing protections and misrepresenting the reach of current laws.

"What should be clear is the Government is not seeking to regulate the type of language used privately between friends," Ms Roxon wrote.

"It is not seeking to change vilification laws, nor will it seek to prohibit people engaging in a discussion on political, religious or other topical matters.

"No democratic government ever should.

"But as a society we don't believe it is okay to make racist taunts, even if people laugh. It is not okay to bully someone with a disability because they sound different. It is not okay to humiliate a person because they are gay."

Senator Brandis says the Government's proposed changes risk breaking the long-standing community consensus on anti-discrimination laws.

"What I think we see in this bill is a very deliberate and ideological attempt by Nicola Roxon, who is the ultimate nanny-state politician, to impose a code of conduct on Australians... which goes way beyond where anti-discrimination law ever went before," he said.

The Greens and gay-rights campaigners are also unhappy with aspects of the laws, arguing it is time for some of the religious exemptions to be removed from the legislation.

But the Australian Christian Lobby has rejected the idea, saying it is important to maintain religious freedoms.

Brandis warns new laws could outlaw debate - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)