Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I was a teenager growing up, the first time I questioned my place in this country was when the newly elected member for Oxley said in her first speech:

I and most Australians want our immigration policy radically reviewed and that of multiculturalism abolished. I believe we are in danger of being swamped by Asians.

She went on to say:

They have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate.

It was a message that made me feel deeply unwelcomed here, but it was also a reminder that our multicultural society can be attacked and threatened. It was a reminder that we all have a role to play to nurture and defend multicultural Australia, because a multicultural and multifaith country does not come easily. It takes work from all of us, and that hard work is worth it.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us of a simple truth: a fair society does not happen by accident. Political leaders need to step up. Community leaders need to step up. All of us need to step up. Racial discrimination is not something confined to the past. It is something people still experience in their daily lives, in workplaces, in schools, in the media and online, and sometimes even at their places of worship. That is why this day must be more than symbolic. It must be a call to action. In Australia, we are rightly proud of our multicultural success story. We are a country shaped by migration and by the belief that people from every background should be able to build a good life here. That belief has made us stronger. It has enriched us as a nation. It has helped make modern Australia the way it is.

I know it personally. In 1978, my parents were welcomed in this country. My family is of Chinese heritage, but my parents were born and raised in Laos, and they fled their homeland and were incredibly lucky that Australia gave them refuge. When my parents came here, they had limited formal education and spoke very little English, but they worked hard in factories and they were able to find secure work with good conditions. They gave my brother and I the education opportunities that they never had, and our family was able to thrive here. It is a story shared by so many in my electorate of Reid and across the country—families who came here seeking peace, safety and possibility; families who worked hard so their children could have more opportunities than they did; families who believed in Australia even before Australia fully believed in them. That is why racial discrimination cuts so deeply. It tells people that, no matter how much they contribute, no matter how hard they work, no matter how much they love this country, they will still be seen as seen by some as less than fully belonging. And that is unacceptable.

We have seen in recent years how quickly prejudice can harden into abuse, intimidation and hatred. We have seen racism directed at many communities. We have seen an unacceptable rise in antisemitism. The attack at Bondi last year was not only a shocking act of violence; it was a devastating blow to the Jewish community and to every Australian who believes in safety, dignity and respect. Jewish Australians are reporting that they feel less safe, and no-one should have to think twice before walking into a synagogue or expressing their identity.

We have also seen a deeply troubling rise in Islamophobia, with increasing threats made to the Muslim community and attacks on their mosques. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is recognised internationally on 15 March. The date commemorates the Christchurch mosque attacks, the deadliest act of terrorism against Muslims in our region. This year, that anniversary fell during the holy month of Ramadan, a time of deep spiritual reflection and heightened communal activity for Muslims. That coincidence makes the moment even more solemn and even more important, because no-one should feel threatened for going to prayer, and no-one should fear abuse because they wear a hijab. We must be unequivocal. Antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism have no place in Australia—not in our streets, not on our campuses, not online and not in our politics. The safety of every community is a shared responsibility. In the face of grief and fear, we choose unity and compassion. Protecting Australians from hate motivated violence and intimidation is essential to safeguarding our democratic freedoms, our social cohesion and our national identity. When any community feels unsafe, the strength of our national fabric is weakened.

Recently, Senator Hanson said in a TV interview that there are no good Muslims. She is wrong. She was wrong in 1996 when she stood up to say multiculturalism in Australia should be abolished, and she continues to be wrong today with her bigotry towards Muslims. I feel sad for that young Muslim Australian whose political awakening may be made by those comments by Senator Hanson. It might make them question their place in this country, just as it made me question my place here decades ago. This is my message to that young Muslim Australian and to all young Australians: you are not defined by your background, your faith, the postcode you grew up in or the school that you went to. In this country you are defined by the content of your character and what you want to do for others. It's a country where the daughter of migrants fleeing conflict in Indochina can become a member of the Australian parliament representing one of the most diverse electorates in the country.

What drives me every day is to build a more inclusive and welcoming country where every child, regardless of their race or religion, grows up knowing they belong and where our diversity is seen for what it is: one of our greatest national strengths. The Australia I believe in is one where good governments change lives by expanding opportunity, by defending dignity, by making sure every person can participate fully, by rejecting division and by making it clear that hatred has no place in our democracy. That is the promise of Australia. It is the promise that people from every background can build a life here in safety and with dignity. It is the promise that your name, your face, your faith or your family history should never be a barrier to your future. So let us say it plainly—no to antisemitism, no to Islamophobia and no to racism.

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