Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Can I make it very clear, on behalf of the coalition, that we firmly believe that every Australian of every race, of every religion and of every background belongs in this country. This is not something that any senator in this chamber should put into question. Australia is without a doubt one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world. People have come here—as we know from looking around the chamber—from every corner of the world, bringing different traditions and different beliefs, and together we have built a society that is stronger for it. We recognise the contribution that faith communities make to our great country and to our way of life, and that of course includes Muslim Australians. They are a part of the fabric of our community. Like all Australians, regardless of your religion, or even if you do not have a religion, you are entitled to be treated with respect and to live free from vilification on the basis of religion. We will therefore support paragraphs (a) through (f) of the motion.

I am disappointed that the motion is going to be put without amendment, as we were going to move an amendment that does condemn Senator Hanson's comments. I don't think Senator Hanson's comments were appropriate. Why? Because I personally have Muslim friends. My mum's best friend is a Muslim. So I have to say I think that there are good Muslims in Australia, and, as I said, Senator Hanson's comments were wrong. It's as simple as that.

However, in relation to a censure, a formal censure is one of the most serious rebukes available to this chamber, and it should be treated as such. In fact, it was Senator Chisholm who acknowledged on 27 October last year that censures are usually reserved for conduct relating to parliamentary and ministerial responsibility. But Senator Chisholm went a step further. He also cautioned that censures should not become the default response, particularly to social media and public commentary. I also refer back to former Senate leader George Brandis, who, in relation to senators, made a core point. The censure is one of the Senate's most serious institutional sanctions, and it should therefore be rare and sober, not used as a routine tactic to score political points.

As I said, we will support paragraphs (a) through (f) because every Australian, regardless of their race, of their religion or of their background belongs in this country, and it is not something that any senator in this chamber should ever put into question. As I said, it's disappointing the motion is going to be moved without amendment, as we would have moved an amendment to condemn the comments and to reject them. But we will not support paragraph (g), on the premise set out by Senator Chisholm and Senator Brandis.