Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This year on 26 January thousands of people gathered peacefully in the centre of Perth, on Whadjuk Nyoongar boodjar, to mark a day that carries profound significance for First Peoples. Australia Day means different things to different people. For all, it should be a day where people can come together and express their views peacefully. Instead, those gathered were placed in danger.

I want to be very clear about the seriousness of what occurred. Throwing an explosive device into a crowd of approximately 2,000 people is not symbolic, it is not abstract and it is not a minor incident. It is an act that could have killed people. We came incredibly close to a devastating tragedy. I want to acknowledge the swift actions of police, who acted quickly and calmly to prevent harm, but I also want to speak plainly about the impact this incident has had, particularly on First Nations communities. I know how deeply this has shaken our people and, in particular, my community. I have heard from parents frightened for their children; from elders who are angry, who are hurt and who are exhausted; and from young people questioning whether it's safe to gather, to protest, or even to be visible. That fear is real and that anger is justified, and it deserves to be acknowledged. This happened on a day that already carries intergenerational trauma for First Nations people. To have a homemade explosive thrown into a crowd of people gathering peacefully adds another layer to an already loaded day. It sends a message that even when we come together peacefully, our safety can be taken for granted.

But now the matter is before the courts. Charges have been laid, and WA police are working with the AFP and ASIO to investigate whether this is an act of terrorism. I want to put on the record that, as a former police officer, I know the importance of allowing the legal process to run its course, but acknowledging that the process doesn't diminish the harm the attempted attack has caused to my community and to the many, many allies who were there on that day. 'Terror' is not just a legal definition; terror is about the impact and it is about the fear. It is about people wondering whether they will make it home peacefully after expressing their views. That is what people experienced in Perth, in Boorloo, my home. That impact is still being felt, not just in Western Australia but by First Nations people and their communities across this country.

We must also be honest about the fact that this didn't happen in a vacuum. It came when we'd just recently seen horrific violence inflicted on Australians, and we returned to this place to deal with that matter. This is why the Albanese Labor government is acting to strengthen social cohesion: acting on hate crimes, working with states and territories to keep our communities safe, and backing law enforcement to stop violence before it happens.

Let me be clear: we will not allow this incident to fracture our communities further. The strong response to violence and intimidation is solidarity. To our community, our elders, our children, our aunties and our uncles and everyone who was present at Forrest Place on 26 January: You are not alone. You are valued. You deserve safety, dignity and peace. Our capacity for love, community and collective care is stronger than hate; it always has been and always will be.