Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Hansard source

I find myself in furious agreement with Senator O'Sullivan. This is a most serious motion. Normally if someone is going to deny formality for something there would be a rational reason for it. We're yet to hear that rational reason. But I have heard arguments from the Greens party that they weren't the ones that denied formality, even though I did distinctly hear Senator McKim's voice deny formality to it.

Senator McKim interjecting—

Here they go up again, biting again and again and continuing to chime in. I'm surprised they don't want do have a discussion about radical Islam because normally they're very happy to talk about how the rest of Australia is racist—because they believe that Islam is a race—or the fact that we are over-egging a threat.

But let me make a point to you, Madam Acting Deputy President: I sat next to this odious character—Sheik whatever he is—who went on to tell me that no Muslim has ever committed a crime in the history of the world. That's what he said to me. He said that Osama Bin Laden and Saudi Arabia weren't responsible for the falling of the Twin Towers on 11 September 2001. This is the delusional character who purports to speak on behalf of Muslims in this country. He is an out-and-out nut job—I make no bones about that—and his brand of Islam is nutty. It is chaotic; it is dysfunctional. And the Greens will not allow it to be condemned. They've joined up in the past. They've joined up with Iranians, as the Iranians are persecuting their own citizens and hanging homosexuals. It's like a bizarre sort of red-green alliance. They've defended this sort of nonsense for far too long. Now they're denying formality to this chamber, which is their right. But they are denying formality for this chamber to pass a motion, a statement of intent, condemning the ideology of the rabid feral dogs who are out there trying to butcher Australian citizens.

Senator McKim interjecting—

This is the disgrace. I note the huffing and puffing from Senator McKim over there. He's huffing and puffing as, just last week or the week before, we had one of these radical converts stabbing people and taking lives in the Bourke Street Mall, as referenced in this motion. Where were the Greens condemning that? They weren't. They are shameless. Now they're denying formality to this chamber to pass a resolution, which is absolutely sympathetic. It is in keeping with what is important to the Australian people: a safe and orderly society. They will welcome people from all over the world, but they will have no time for the extremists who are seeking to radically overthrow, overhaul or damage the Australian citizenry and our way of life.

There is no more radical and dangerous ideology in this chamber than what is sitting in the Greens, because we know they are prepared to cover up the slights against the Western world, if it supports their goals. We know they are prepared to cover up the misogyny, the misandry, the sexual abuse, the rape allegations and the complaints against their own organisations, if it will further the global Greens cause. We know that they have no regard for truth or fact. They are prepared to peddle any fiction in the name of growing their own support base.

Denying formality on such a significant motion is another example of just how out of touch this radical and extreme Greens movement is with what the Australian people expect. For those who say we pass too many motions in this place, very few, if any, are more serious than this. This is not a platitude. This is not just a spurious political stunt. This is about our national security and it is about uniting the Australian people—uniting this chamber—and yet we find it fosters division because of the radical elements that are at work here.

Radical Islam is a dangerous ideology, just like the radical Greens movement is a dangerous ideology. I'm amazed. They always like talking about identities and they love talking about the alphabets, Muslims, vegans and everyone else who is apparently marginalised in society, but when it comes to sticking up for the rest of Australia—for those people who entrust this place and this government and successive governments with their national security—where do they go? They go missing. They deny formality. It is an indictment upon them.