Patrick Gorman (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

On 26 January, people gathered in Boorloo, in Forrest Place in Perth. It's been the home of democratic expression in my electorate for more than a century. What followed was the most abhorrent attempted attack on people simply exercising their democratic rights. This was an attack on First Nations people. This was an attack on all Australians. Indeed, it was an attack on our democracy. This was a potential terrorist act designed to cause significant harm, to cause fear and to kill our fellow Australians. A weapon was thrown into the crowd: a homemade explosive device that was there to kill and harm innocent civilians. That breaks my heart. Any attempt to attack or intimidate First Nations Australians is completely unacceptable, and this indeed was a direct attack on the social cohesion which we treasure here in Australia. There is no place for hate, intimidation or racism in our country. It's not the sort of country that we are and it's not the direction in which we will head, because our democratic rights, whether for First Nations Australians or our newest Australians, are fundamental to who we are. Democracy must never be met with threats of violence or threats of terrorist acts.

I'm so grateful that this parliament didn't have to deal with a condolence motion as the first item of business when we gathered today. I'm grateful that we've not had to have leaders and colleagues come and lay flowers in Forrest Place and that we have not had to attend funerals—but there is significant hurt in my electorate and across this country because what happened was potentially devastating for many of our fellow Australians.

I want to talk a little bit about the crowd. This was not just a crowd; they were treasured members of my community, gathered in our peaceful town square. Noongar people have stood on and cared for that land for 45,000 years. At the event we had First Nations leaders and Australians from all walks of life. Young people were at this gathering, engaging in public debate. Friends and neighbours jumped on trains to attend a rally that's been happening in Perth for many decades. We had parents pushing their kids in prams. When I was a kid in a pram, my parents used to take me to Aboriginal land rights marches through the streets of Perth. Back then, there were horrible chants. As a baby, I was spat on for attending those marches with my parents.

This was a thousand times worse. This was an attack on people who were simply having their say. It was not just a crowd; it was our community. It was Australia. This location, for those who don't know, sits between Perth's two CBD train stations—next to what we call the 'Cactus', a big piece of art in our city. Every day, 200,000 people go into Perth to work, to study and to spend time together. And that's why I thank the member for Curtin—because the Perth CBD belongs to all Australians. It is Australia's west-coast capital. It is where visitors come for tourism. It's our cultural capital, our nightlife capital, our business capital and a retail and hospitality hub. And I don't think there's any Western Australian who hasn't at some point found themselves in that very location. It's important that this motion passes through this House—and I also want to thank the member for Wentworth for seconding it—because it sends a very powerful message across this country.

Our government has stood firm in condemning this disgusting attack. I first put out a statement just hours afterwards, thanking police and first responders, when details were still very unclear. But what was clear even then was the vile nature of this act.

I want to again thank the WA police and, equally, the members of the public who spoke out when something didn't seem right—when they saw this explosive device thrown into the crowd. And I say, to all Australians: we all have a responsibility. If you have information that can keep your fellow citizens safe, please take action. Don't wait until it's too late. The National Security Hotline is there for all Australians on 1800123400, or there is Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.

Shortly after this happened, I said to our First Nations community in Perth, 'I stand with you.' That commitment has not wavered. I stand with that community. And I stand with those who seek to uphold our democratic freedoms, even when, as has been said very well by other speakers, people are putting forward views that don't sit with our own. I've said very clearly that I want to see our town square in the Perth CBD be a place where people can express their views in the democratic traditions we've had since Federation. As the investigation continues, I hold firm in that view.

On 28 January, it was announced that the Western Australian Joint Counter Terrorism Team would investigate this attack as a potential terrorist act. I thank WA police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation for their continued efforts in this regard. I also note in this place that I've had a number of conversations with WA police commissioner Col Blanch. He's continually briefed me on the situation, and I thank him for that and thank his team, who have been working incredibly hard following this incident. I met with him again today, and yesterday I was briefed by the deputy commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Hilda Sirec. Today I also met with Minister Reece Whitby, the WA police minister, as part of the ongoing work across Commonwealth and the state to make sure that this is a full, thorough investigation. We await the outcomes of the work that's underway.

The WA government has shared in our commitment to keeping Perth the peaceful and vibrant city it has long been. In the words of Premier Roger Cook:

… we must also recommit ourselves to making sure that we maintain a peaceful and safe community, doing everything we can …

Indeed, we are doing everything we can.

I also note that the Prime Minister firmly and clearly said, the day after the incident:

This was an incident that is quite shocking. He's been charged with two serious offences and I look forward to him being prosecuted to the full force of the law.

I couldn't agree more.

I put on record my thanks to Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, who has engaged extensively with First Nations communities across Australia. As other speakers have noted, the hurt is real not just in Boorloo but across this country. Minister McCarthy said:

I have heard from Elders who met with the West Australian Police Commissioner. They have been briefed on what took place on the day at the rally. They were certainly very pleased to be a part of that briefing. The WA Police are working closely with them to keep them informed.

The response, while ongoing, has been clear. We've got law enforcement officials, the WA government and the Commonwealth government sharing a determination to keep Perth safe, to keep First Nations Australians safe and to keep our democracy safe from those who seek to harm it.

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