Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The electorate of Solomon, encompassing Darwin and Palmerston, is one of the most multicultural and harmonious electorates in Australia. Today in Solomon, schools are holding special assemblies to celebrate harmony, and workplaces are having multicultural lunches. The Darwin City Council is holding a special citizenship ceremony in honour of the day and in celebration of our diversity and multiculturalism. The Palmerston City Council is hosting a special story time, where attendees are encouraged to attend in traditional cultural dress and hear popular stories from cultures from all around the world. I congratulate the mayors of both cities, the Hon. Katrina Fong Lim and the Hon. Ian Abbott, on the fantastic work they do in fostering multiculturalism within our community. I also want to commend the Northern Territory government, and in particular Minister Lauren Moss.

But, unfortunately, on the same day that these groups are celebrating diversity and multiculturalism, the very things that make Darwin and Palmerston great, this federal government is trying to tear them down. This is despite the fact that the Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory, as well many other multicultural groups, had appeared before the recent parliamentary inquiry providing detailed submissions reporting the detrimental effects that weakening protections against race hate speech will have. It is not the right message that we want to be sending. A true leader would not consider these changes. It is a disgrace. Those opposite should have a good look at themselves.