Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I respond to some of Senator Collins's comments, I'd first like to comment on some changes I've seen in this chamber around the debates on these very specific topics from those questions in question time. The level of disrespect and blatant politicking is an absolute disgrace—asking questions over and over that seek to divide our community and that seek to incite hatred, or about things that many of you in this chamber know full well cannot be aired publicly. And I will say, as a member of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security, that the committee has been briefed. Yes, those opposite have been briefed on the whole ISIS bride scenario. So a lot of what's going on here is blatant and disgraceful politicking.

I look around this chamber, and this issue and the other issues more broadly around racism that we have been looking at are a disgrace as well. The behaviour that we've seen just this week has been deeply saddening to so many of us. I look around this chamber, and I know many of you have worked very hard to build community cohesion. You've worked very hard to stand against racism. I would say the standout person in this chamber is Senator Penny Wong. Tireless, dogged and passionate, she is a mighty advocate. And I have been disgusted with what I saw at question time today—disgusted. I and many others I know look up to Senator Penny Wong and what she has done to build community cohesion and to address issues of racism. I was speechless with what I saw happen in question time today—speechless. And we should remember the history of bipartisan support to stand against racism that this chamber has had but that so many have plundered in this term. They've plundered it.

You should be ashamed, because it's not just about having a few arguments in this chamber; we're all happy to have a robust and out-there debate if you want to talk about your policy, their policy, their policy or our policy on housing, tax or energy. Sure. Let's go. But, when it is about inciting hatred and racism and picking one set of people over every other to highlight, it is a disgrace. Make your points without that. Be careful what you do, because we are going down a very, very dirty, slippery path here. I would advise serious caution.

Our community is precious. People come here from all over the world. I came here. I'm an immigrant. I came to this country, and I was amazed at what a beautiful, safe place it is to be. I'd never experienced that kind of community before. I was delighted to be able to immigrate into this country. And my heart goes out every other person who has—those who've maybe found themselves the subject of the disgraceful conversations in here. My heart goes out to you. You are welcome. And our politics in this chamber need to get better. We need to understand the importance, the value and the risks and just be better.