The Abbott government has proposed removing the words insult, offend and humiliate from section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Concerns have been raised over the proposed changes, announced by Attorney-General George Brandis, which would see the stipulations in 18C replaced with provisions outlawing racial vilification and intimidation.
Mr Wyatt spoke against the proposed changes when first announced in March.
The Indigenous MP told the ABC’s Q and A program on Monday that would cross the floor if the proposed changes were brought to parliament in its current form.
“I can say categorically when that comes back into the party room and we debate it, if it hasn’t got the mechanisms for protection, then certainly I will be challenging that lack of commitment,” he said.
“I want to transcend above the politics. I made the comment in the party room. I said a lot of you in here will never experience racial vilification. It is only a handful in this room that will experience that. Let me tell you, the pain of that stays with people, it scars them.
“My position won’t change.”
The program, broadcast live from the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land, also heard from Senator Nova Peris.
The Northern Territory Senator joined the outrage against racism, telling the audience that “we should not be judged on the colour of our skin”.
“We’ve seen how this government wants to repeal the Racial Discrimination Act, which has served this country well and its citizens who are vilified through racial discrimination for almost two decades,” she said.
“When you have political figures, leaders, who are coming out and saying it is ok to be a bigot – it is not ok to be a bigot. Racism is not ok.”
'Racism doesn’t go away'
Mr Wyatt also spoke on his experiences of racism both from political and personal life.
Addressing a young student in the audience, who had spoken about facing racism in his school, Mr Wyatt said that the barbs fade but always remain.
“Racism doesn’t go away,” he said.
“Even in my current role, I still get barbs from people, I get the trolls of social media, on Facebook. I ignore them because I feel sorry for them. It means they haven’t had the opportunity of sitting down with me or giving me the opportunity of having a conversation.”
He also spoke about the importance of developing resilience.
“My wife read a letter I received and she got really upset,” she said.
“She said to me, ‘why aren’t you reacting?’. I said the moment I give attention to that person, they have won. By ignoring them and moving on, it’s like water sliding off a duck’s back now.”
