Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

Let me begin by clearly and unambiguously stating that the Liberal Party condemns the attempted bombing on 26 January in Perth. Several of my colleagues and I condemned that immediately in the media after the improvised explosive device was hurled at those people who had gathered. It is appalling, and it's just luck that this wasn't much worse. Regardless, this event has caused so much pain and so much hurt, and it is abhorrent. There is of course no place for violence of this kind in Australia—not ever. We note the ongoing investigation by the Western Australia Police Force, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. We acknowledge the serious harm caused, and we express our solidarity with all those who were affected.

We affirm this: this is an attack against Indigenous Australians. That's the appropriate term to use. It is an attack also against all Australians, and we must condemn it. Those propositions are not controversial. They should unite this chamber. Violence directed at people because of who they are is simply and categorically unacceptable. It must be condemned plainly, decisively and without qualification.

Where the Liberal Party parts ways with this motion is its decision to go beyond that clear and necessary condemnation and instead prosecute arguments about Australia Day. This is not what this motion needs to be, and it is not what this motion requires. This attack is already being investigated as a potential terrorist attack. That is an investigation to be left to WA police, the AFP and ASIO. Those responsible should face the full force of the law through our police, our security agencies and our courts. That is the proper course. It is not appropriate to use an incident that remains under active investigation to retaliate, to reignite debates about 26 January or to ascribe broader political meaning before the facts are established.

We condemn the attack. We stand against racism and violence. This motion is not a vehicle for prosecuting Australia Day and that debate. This is why we will ask that paragraphs (e) and (i) be put separately. Those provisions are politicising a vile attack that is still under active investigation. Australia Day is not the issue here. Any violence against Australians based on what they believe in is unacceptable, and this motion rightly condemns it. The Liberal Party stands with all those who have been affected, Indigenous or otherwise, and we affirm this parliament's recent condemnation of racially motivated hatred, acknowledging that this unambiguously includes racism directed at Indigenous Australians. I also move the amendment as circulated in my name. The amendment omits 'First Peoples' from paragraph (j) and replaces it with 'all Australians'. This is because violence and intimidation impact all Australians, not just Indigenous Australians.

All people must be free to protest lawfully and peacefully without fear of harm, regardless of their views. No cause will ever be advanced by threatening or harming others. Australians can disagree respectfully, but violence will only deepen division. It is unacceptable. Everyone in this place should be working to bring people together, not to inflame tensions or excuse bad behaviour. The federal government has a duty to equally protect all people in this country from racism, discrimination, hate speech and the threat of racially motivated violence. The government must continue to take urgent action to address racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence in all its forms whenever it appears and wherever it appears. That is why the Liberal Party cannot support the singling out of Indigenous Australians in paragraph (j).

This act of violence is about behaviour, not politics. Violence is wrong, no matter who commits it, when it is committed or why it is committed. Our focus must remain on safety, accountability and peaceful civic engagement. As I said previously, an attack on Indigenous Australians is an attack on all Australians. Australia is better than what we saw in Perth on 26 January. Disagreement must never turn into intimidation and violence. I seek leave to move the amendment as circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

I move:

Amend paragraph (j) as follows:

(j) calls for governments to continue to take urgent action to address racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence against all Australians.