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

My colleague the Minister for International Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Anne Aly, spoke today honouring the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Next week, from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March, Australians will mark Harmony Week. This year Harmony Week holds a much more sombre note, coming three short months after the horrific antisemitic Bondi terror attack and two racially motivated planned attacks in Perth that were intercepted by the police. I want to give a shoutout to our police, whether they are at the state and territory level or the federal level, for the work that they do. I also acknowledge the Islamophobic incident at an iftar dinner in Ballarat last night. As the Prime Minister has said really clearly, we've got a really heightened environment at the moment and people need to dial it down. This is why Harmony Week must be a call to action.

Harmony Week does not stand alone. On 15 March, we will acknowledge the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, where we stand against discrimination in all its forms. The United Nations General Assembly, with the sponsorship of 60 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, adopted a resolution designating 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. This date commemorates the tragic Christchurch mosque attacks, the deadliest act of terrorism against Muslims in our region. It marks the solemn remembrance of the gravest act of terrorism against Muslims in our region.

This year the anniversary coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, a period of deep spiritual and heightened communal activity for Muslims. I want to acknowledge the Islamic Society of Darwin for the Ramadan grand iftar and dinner that I attended recently and spoke at. I couldn't attend, but my staff represented me at the UMNT annual interfaith iftar dinner that was titled 'Shoulder to Shoulder: Standing with Australian Muslims, Upholding Australian Values'. I want to acknowledge some of our community leaders—I haven't got time to acknowledge more—the Islamic Council of the Northern Territory and ICNT chairman Mr Sadaruddin Chowdury, who I work with and speak with a lot; the Palmerston president Qasim Mujahid; Darwin president Michael Katab Mohammad; and the UMNT president Mr Mohammed Raziuddin.

The Australian Muslim community has in recent times experienced an alarming surge in Islamophobic and anti-Muslim hate incidents that not only threaten the safety of Australian Muslims but also undermine the principles of diversity, inclusion and social cohesion. Reports from community bodies indicate a troubling rise in threats, in hate correspondence directed at mosques and Islamic centres and in incidents of verbal and physical abuse, particularly targeting visibly Muslim women. Addressing Islamophobia is not solely a matter for one community. It goes to the heart of who we are as a nation. Protecting Australians from hate motivated violence and intimidation is essential to safeguarding our democratic freedoms, our social cohesion and our national stability and security.

When any community feels unsafe, the strength of our national fabric is weakened, and connection is what we need right now both in Australia and all around the world. Moments like iftar are precious because they allow people to come together and connect over a meal, in conversation and in mutual respect. I want to give a shoutout to my good mate, the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and the member for Kingsford-Smith, who attended an iftar dinner last night with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and members of the diplomatic corps.

It's not rocket science to look at our own communities and the diversity within those communities but also to look at our region in the Indo-Pacific and further afield to understand that these issues are important to our neighbours and to our friends. Harmony Week culminates with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, which is a day that reminds us that racism is not abstract. It is not just historical, and it is not harmless. Racism is an evil. While this day always falls within Harmony Week, this important international day, as all honourable members know, is a day born of tragedy. On 21 March 1960, peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa, gathered to demonstrate against the apartheid government's oppressive pass laws, which restricted the movement of black South Africans. Police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and injuring more than 180. That massacre at Sharpeville became one of the most defining moments of the struggle against apartheid and has become emblematic with the struggle against racism generally.

I want to wish our communities across Australia all the best for Harmony Week. I'll be attending events in my electorate, as I'm sure all honourable members who want to stand against racism and promote harmony as an important role for us as local members will also do.

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