Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the Greens in strong support of the motion condemning the attempted racist terrorist attack on First Nations people and their supporters in Boorloo Perth on Invasion Day. A man threw a homemade bomb into a crowd of First Nations people and allies at the Invasion Day rally, with the intent to hurt and kill people—elders, children, families. It was a racist attack. It was an attempted terrorist attack. The only reason people avoided physical injury was that the device failed to detonate, but this attack and the terrible silence that has followed has inflicted deep trauma on First Nations people; on others at the rally in support, including our Greens senator Jordon Steele-John and his staff; and on all Australians.

The silence from media and conservatives, who were so loudly outraged about antisemitic violence for months, has been deafening. Despite the deliberate targeting of the First Nations community, it took three days for authorities to decide to investigate the attack as a potential act of terrorism. I'm glad they are now investigating, but suppressing the identity of the attacker—and the delay—speaks volumes. It's a familiar pattern. When Neo-Nazis violently attacked Camp Sovereignty in Naarm in August last year, hospitalising community members and desecrating the Aboriginal flag, the police did not investigate the attack as a hate crime.

We currently have the highest rate of Aboriginal deaths in custody in over 40 years. Overpolicing is killing First Nations people, but violence towards First Nations people is simply ignored. The attacks in Naarm and Boorloo are part of an escalation of violence against First Nations people, who are already facing entrenched racism and systemic abuse. The responses to the attacks highlight a brutal truth: not all acts of hate are treated equally in this country.

What message does this send to First Nations people? The constant minimisation of the violence, dispossession and inequality that they have faced since colonisation is a national shame. A bomb was thrown into a crowd of people on Invasion Day. There could be no more blatant attack, yet it barely caused a ripple in the media. The Western Australian opposition leader is yet to even comment on the attack.

We all stood in this place just weeks ago and promised to reduce hate; that means all hate. Any act of racially motivated violence and discrimination must be clearly condemned and action taken against perpetrators. The fact that no-one was physically injured in this attack is a blessing, but it should not take away from the seriousness of what has occurred. I'd like to share my support and gratitude to the event organisers and the volunteers in Boorloo who worked to keep those gathered safe amidst the confusion and fear that rippled through the crowd at Forrest Place last Monday. This event, which should have been a peaceful gathering, has been retraumatising for many First Nations people, and I send my condolences and solidarity to all those who are feeling the impacts of this attack.

We have seen the violence that develops from racial vilification, we have seen the risks of ignoring threats, and we have seen that weak or permissive responses create the environment for radicalisation. What we need to see is genuine action. We must not let conservative politicians divide us with Trump-style rhetoric inciting hate against First Nations people, migrants or other marginalised groups. This parliament must equally protect all people in Australia from racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence. We must respond with equal conviction to all acts of racially motivated violence. We must tackle the conditions that enable fear to turn to hate: cost-of-living and housing pressures, racist dog whistling from the media, and algorithms and online echo chambers fanning the flames.

An attack against First Nations people is an attack against all Australians. We must continue to stand with First Nations communities calling for truth, treaty and justice, and we must fully fund and implement the National Anti-Racism Framework to create a genuinely cohesive, inclusive and antiracist society.