Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have a great deal of pleasure in standing up here and speaking on this proposition. Regardless of some of the people who are sitting on this side of the chamber, at the back of the chamber, I actually do very strongly hold beliefs about the Muslim community and their right to their voice. I do take great offence to what was said by Senator Hanson.

I would say this to everybody here: start thinking about the effect that this language of division that is coming from both the left and the right has on this country. I have as much right to speak out and speak on behalf of hardworking Australians who happen to be Muslims as I do those who happen to be of any other faith. I don't expect to stand here and be lectured by those who won't give me the opportunity to say what I believe should be said.

I met with the Lebanese Muslim Association just last week. I've met with the community on numerous occasions, as have many of us in here. When we start talking about Muslims in our community, we have to talk about the Lebanese Muslim Association, which has been supporting and feeding communities in Australia for over 60 years. They've run programs like the Youth Transition Support initiative and the Youth Hub, which help young people gain recognised qualifications, build pathways into employment and access structured mentoring and community support. Between July and December last year alone, they supported more than 1,560 people through food bank services. In that same period, they assisted over 300 people with energy and water relief. Through their charity arm Feed the World, they also organised food packs and raised funds for emergency relief in crisis zones around the world. The president, Hafez Alameddine, spoke about the hurt and fear Senator Hanson's comments have caused across the Muslim community.

Let's also talk about Mariam Veiszadeh, a proud Muslim Afghan refugee who became one of Australia's most prominent social advocates. In 2014, she founded the Islamophobia Register Australia, a secure platform for Australians to report incidents of Islamophobia, hate and discrimination. Since then, it has released national research reports that shine a light on hate, document what victims are experiencing and connect those victims with legal advice and mental health support. After her work, she was faced with online abuse from Neo-Nazis, she received death threats that prompted police patrols outside her home and suspicious packages were delivered to her address. Despite that, she didn't take a backward step. I think we can all learn from her words. She said:

Speaking up, standing up, or calling out something is important. Because not only can it help change the course of your own pathway, but it can also pave a way for others that will follow you.

Then there's Imam Ismet Purdic, who, along with his wife, was followed, abused and forced off the road just two months ago in Melbourne. Three strangers hurled racist abuse, threw rubbish at their car, punched him and even threatened his wife. Yet his response wasn't anger or division—a lesson for everyone. He said:

My message for all of us in Australia is just to stay together to help each other to stay safe, and not to allow anyone, doesn't matter … his religion or beliefs, to break this peace, security and all [the] good values we believe in … We must, as Australians, fight against hate, Islamophobia, antisemitism … we must stay together.

And who can forget brave Ahmed Al Ahmed? In the middle of unimaginable chaos in Bondi, when everyone was running for their lives, he ran towards one of the terrorists and tackled the armed attacker, saving countless lives that day. Let's not forget that these are all stories of great Australian Muslims. When Senator Hanson asks, 'How can you tell me there are good Muslims?' it's not just an attack on one community; it's an attack on all Australians. It's clear that Senator Hanson has no solutions for challenges that this country faces. Australia is at its strongest—