Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make some brief remarks on a very important topic which should be debated in this parliament to recognise the significance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This pays tribute to the victims of an awful racist attack recognised by the United Nations. But it's not about looking back; it's about looking at our country today and recognising the good and the challenges. It's also about looking forward. I'm inspired by the words said in the chamber earlier today by my friend the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, who looked at our country squarely but optimistically, seeing the extraordinary opportunities that are before us.

For me, they fall broadly into two categories. I do think that the greatest success of modern Australia is the multicultural society that we have built—its strength and its diversity at so many levels. It drives our economy and it makes our communities so special. I'm here with my friend the member for Chisholm, who sees this absolutely every day in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. That's one bit. The other bit, of course, are the 65,000 years of continuous culture that we have the privilege of sharing. These two things together make our country special, and it's something that I think all of us should celebrate.

But, in celebrating these things, we can't take them for granted or ignore the threats. An insidious threat is the ongoing prevalence of racism and other forms of hate. In our country, everyone should be proud of who they are and proud to be Australian everywhere. We know, sadly, right now that isn't the case. All of us reflect on the awful act of terror that was committed in Bondi and its repercussions that continue in our communities around the country. We reflect also on the act committed by an Australian in Christchurch years ago, another act born of hate. In my own community, I think about the attack last year of two women at the Epping plaza shopping centre because of how they were dressed—visibly Muslim women. Of course, in a short time we will also be recognising the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. With our First Nations people, we think about not only the pain inflicted directly on people in Perth on 26 January but also how that reverberates.

I know that these incidents do not reflect how Australia is. But all of us here in this place and in our communities need to be absolutely unequivocal in condemning racism and hatred in all of its forms. I recognise the work in my own community, particularly the work led by Whittlesea Community Connections in finding better answers to address the pain and the hurt of racism.

I think about the work we can all do to foster a closer sense of belonging and understanding through interfaith networks and through listening to each other more carefully. For all of us in this place, and all of us who occupy positions in public life, perhaps we can work on thinking about the words that we use and reflecting more on their impact on others, and thinking about how, through our words and our deeds, we can help build a society where mutual respect and a sense of belonging are nonnegotiables.

I firmly believe that our diversity is our greatest strength as a community. It's something I see every day and take inspiration from. I think there's so much to celebrate in the cultural festivals. But, to paraphrase what Minister Aly said today, it's one thing to celebrate these things, but we shouldn't celebrate them if we're not prepared to defend them. That's the very idea of a country in which everyone is respected and everyone belongs. Fundamental to doing that is dealing squarely with racism and other forms of hatred wherever they form, and recognising that where racism is present, it harms individuals. I think all of us recognise that, but I think it's more insidious than that. I think the existence of racism hurts us as a society too. On this day we should all commit ourselves to eliminating this ugliness from our national life.

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