At the request of Senator McCarthy, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that all people in Australia, regardless of their ethnicity, cultural or religious background, deserve to be respected in our society;

(b) notes the letter from more than 30 community groups in response to a rise in racist attacks and commentary in Australia;

(c) acknowledges that racism has negative physiological and psychological impacts; and

(d) calls on the Government to:

(i) immediately begin a bipartisan approach to the development of a national racism strategy that will build a more tolerant and inclusive society, and

(ii) immediately begin a bipartisan approach to developing a national racism campaign that educates and sends a message of zero tolerance to any form of racism in Australia.