I've only been on this Earth for 16 years, but I am beyond glad that I've enjoyed all of that time in Australia. I love my country -almost as much as I love Nigella Lawson - and I really do love her - and not least because it is a land of freedom.
The most fundamental of those freedoms is free speech. It underpins every other right and freedom we enjoy and the fact Australian law restricts it is nothing short of scandalous. 
The Australian revealed last week that an Aboriginal woman, Cindy Prior, is pursuing a number of students and staff of the Queensland University of Technology to the tune of $250,000 in damages under the controversial Section 18C of the -Racial Discrimination Act.
Section 18C makes it illegal to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" an individual or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality or colour.
Prior accuses a number of students of racially vilifying her online after she refused them use of a computer suite in the university's Oodgeroo Unit because they were not Aboriginal. She also alleges a lecturer stated it "seems a bit silly" to refuse students use of an indigenous computer lab when spaces were available.
Quite frankly, if you cannot stand a few critical messages being posted on Facebook, only a handful of which could even be considered mildly racist, then you need to toughen up.
If I took legal action against everyone who insulted me, there'd be a line-up from Cape York to Wilsons Promontory.
And what of the fact that Ms Prior was engaging in racial segregation - something abhorrent in a nation such as Australia. If you don't want to be criticised on the basis of race, you'd be well advised not to toss people out of a public space on the basis of theirs.
To be offended or insulted is highly subjective, for what offends me might seem innocuous to another.
The idea that someone could be liable on those terms, as Andrew Bolt was in 2011, is absurd.
The federal government has taken a lily-livered attitude towards free speech. Former PM Tony Abbott while in opposition promised to -repeal 18C, but later reneged under pressure from racial interest groups.
Late last year, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton revoked the visa of US anti-abortion campaigner Troy Newman on the basis of his views.
But the government's approach is unfortunately indicative of a rising Leftist culture that seeks to silence dissenters and bay for the blood of anyone who dare be offensive.
As a young man, it disturbs me that universities, which should be havens of free debate, are now replete with touchy-feely types who try their -utmost to have controversial speakers uninvited from events.
I worry about the state of my country in 50 years time, and the time of my children once I'm gone if this is the best we can manage. How can we have an open debate on important -issues when craven students must -retreat to "safe spaces" lest they have their precious feelings hurt?
It has been put to me before, quite seriously, that free speech is fundamentally bad and hurtful.It's about time we prescribe children a spoonful of cement and get Heath Franklin to once again tell Australia to "harden the f--k up". We'll be a better nation for it.