Nicolette Boele (Bradfield, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My electorate of Bradfield is proudly multicultural—Chinese, Jewish, Armenian and so many more. On the weekend I was contacted by a constituent deeply troubled by the anti-immigration protests which were about to occur in Australia's capital cities. This constituent is of South Asian heritage and has lived in Australia for close to four decades, safely and happily. But, in the face of the weekend protest, she said that her stomach was churning with grief and fear. It was devastating to hear these words.

So let me state my position: I do not condone the rhetoric or actions of the protesters on the weekend. I condemn them both. But it's important to reflect on why this group of people felt compelled to march. There is clearly a cohort of people who feel left behind, without a place in the version of modern Australia that we are trying to build. All too often, we see some people who feel that they are being left behind fixate on or even concoct grievances which are not the real cause of their disaffection. Unfortunately, there are leaders in this place that stoke fear and promote division, and so I'm here to stand and say and do the opposite—to be a welcoming, encouraging safe voice for my community in all of its beautiful diversity. I call on all other leaders of this place to do the same.