New race hate laws not 'dead': Hinch

Derryn Hinch insists changes to race hate-speech laws aren't dead, predicting even more government MPs will come clean on removing the words "offend" and "insult" from a contentious section of the Racial Discrimination Act.

The former broadcaster turned senator says he's as appalled by racism as anybody would be, but if you believed in freedom of speech you've got to accept the freedom of speech from "ugly people" as well.

"The numbers are building and I know that in the lower house there are a lot more Liberals that haven't come clean yet," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.