Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

My procedural error, President. I rise to move that the Senate censure Senator Pauline Hanson for her statement that distressed and offended not only Muslim Australians but Australians across our nation. In the past fortnight public debate in Australia has focused on these comments. Parents across the country have been asked by their children what they meant, whether their classmates believe these comments, whether their country believes them, whether they are safe. Last week a man was arrested, alleged to have been planning to attack the Muslim community and mosques as well as West Australian police and the parliament. These are the real-world consequences of reckless, divisive political stunts that fan the flames of bigotry.

In that public debate there has been much talk of Australian values and what Australia is, and I want to speak about the Australia in which I believe. I believe in an Australia built by people who came here with little more than hope; by convicts; by 10-pound Poms; by those fleeing wars and atrocities such as the holocaust; by people who worked in our factories, on our farms, who opened small businesses, staffed our hospitals, taught in our schools and served in the defence forces; by people who brought with them language, culture, faith, food, and, in doing so, enriched us all; and of course a country built by the people who were here first—First Nations Australians. This is what makes Australia great and we are stronger because of it. We are more prosperous because of it. We are more capable in the world, and we are more able to find common ground with so many of the world's peoples because of it. I believe in an Australia that is proud of having the oldest continuous culture on the planet; an Australia that is proud of our diversity; and an Australia that respects different races, religions and each other's right to live in peace.

I know Australians expect their elected representatives to set the standard for our country and to show respect, basic respect, for all Australians. Nearly a million Australians practice Islam. They are doctors, nurses, tradies, teachers, small-business owners, firefighters, police officers and veterans. They are Imams, community leaders and role models. They are parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters. They are the kids catching the bus home from school every day. And they are the first to condemn the radical extremists who commit terrorist acts in the name of religion. To claim that none of them are good is to say there are no good Australians amongst them. It is to tell a child that no matter how hard they study, how kindly they treat others, how much they love this country, they will never belong. It is to say we have no pride in great Australians like Usman Khawaja or Tina Rahimi or my friend Dr Anne Aly. It is to deny the bravery of Ahmed Al Ahmed. It is not only dangerous; it is not who we are.

Freedom of speech is a cherished part of our democracy but so too is the responsibility that comes with it, especially for people elected to this place. The words of parliamentarians echo into classrooms, workplaces, communities. They help shape how others see each other and how they see themselves. A nation divided against itself is a nation diminished. When we undermine social cohesion, we weaken the foundations of what makes us the best country on earth. And so many Australians are troubled by the response of those in this place, not only from One Nation itself but from coalition senators who contemplate working with them.

There was a time when leaders understood some lines should not be crossed. We now see a different approach, a race to outflank Senator Hanson to the right and a willingness to echo the language and legitimatise politicians who target people of faith. In doing so, they shift the boundaries of what is acceptable and they allow a noisy fringe to define Australian values. What are those values? They are fairness, they are respect, they are a recognition we stand as equal citizens of this great country. This censure motion is about drawing a line and sending a message to the people of faith in this country and to children in this country that your leaders believe that condemning an entire religion is not acceptable.

I am proud of the Australia we have built together. I'm proud to serve with the most diverse parliament in history and I want every Australian child—Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Sikh or of no faith at all—to know and to believe that they belong here, that they too are part of the Australian story. We do not strengthen Australia by narrowing the definition of who counts. So, in defence of the inclusive, confident nation that Australians are so proud of, I commend this motion to the Senate.