Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Here we have Labor's latest edition in 'don't mention the war'. Don't mention the catastrophic impacts of us entering an illegal war that is killing civilians, including women and children—over 160 schoolgirls. Don't mention Labor's cruelty towards refugees time and time again. I've got to say it's wearing pretty thin hearing them get up and speak about what a proud multicultural nation we are while simultaneously slamming the door shut on people who need our protection more than ever, and it's getting pretty tiring hearing them completely disregarding international law and our international humanitarian obligations.

Time and time again, it's Labor governments that treat refugees with the most cruelty of anyone. Don't be fooled. This is a cynical call and cry-out to One Nation. That's who they're talking to: One Nation. They don't want the public to know what they're doing on this bill, the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026. That's why they don't want it to go to a proper inquiry, and that's why they are not getting up and speaking about it—because they know it's the wrong thing to do. They know it's cruel, they know it's inhumane, and they know that Australians will not and do not support it. It's absolutely pathetic.

Today, they have hit an all-new low. Just when you think they couldn't stoop any lower, they come out and support Uncle Donald Trump in this illegal war. They have their slow and steady creep of changing talking points day to day. They take the public for mugs; they really do. But people are clueing on, and they see you for what you are: a group of people who say one thing and do another thing, a group of people who aren't willing to stand up for principles that you say your party is founded on, and a group of people who just want to hide in the shadows and, frankly, are spineless when it comes to issues of standing up and showing leadership on the global state, showing compassion and showing respect for our international legal institutions and for people who are fleeing war zones that we are playing a role in creating.

Parliament is being run by the war parties of Labor, Liberal and One Nation. They are rushing us into a new US forever war, cheering on the bombing and shutting the door to people seeking safety from that same appalling war. This bill will allow Labor to prevent someone's grandmother who has a valid visa from coming to Australia because their country might be too dangerous to return to. Can you put yourself in the shoes of someone who is having their neighbourhood bombed and is afraid to return home, knowing that they have no option because cruel countries like ours are slamming the doors shut? Can you put yourself in that position? Of course you can't, because the privilege just puts you in a whole other realm.

People are coming here for weddings, for funerals, for work and to enjoy our community, and they've had this snatched away by Labor in a race to the bottom with One Nation and the Liberals. Stop being afraid of them, and show some leadership. That's what Australians are crying out for. Don't follow the US. Don't follow Trump. Don't follow One Nation and the race-to-the-bottom LNP. Show us some leadership. Make yourselves proud. To those backbenchers backgrounding journalists: it's not good enough. How do you sleep at night? I just don't comprehend how these people sleep at night.

If you ever thought this war was about protecting the people of Iran, here is the clearest example of why it is a massive lie. With this bill, Labor is actively working to prevent people from Iran from being safe, all because the war parties of this parliament are in a race to the bottom. Once again, it is everyday people who pay the price—people so far removed from the decisions being made in the war rooms in the US, in Tel Aviv and here in the parliament in Canberra. The government gives with one hand while taking away with the other. It welcomes the praise in the morning and quietly shuts the door later in the day. This is duplicity, plain and simple.

Protection should never depend on someone's public profile or the amount of attention their case receives. I do want to acknowledge those incredibly brave Iranian women, some of whom will rightly be granted asylum in this country. But the government is saying: 'Don't look over here. This is awkward. This is a bit messy and cruel. Don't look over here; look over there. Look at the headlines.' It's not good enough. Protection should never depend on someone's public profile. Anyone who genuinely fears persecution has the right to seek safety in this country. That includes people already living in our communities who are still stuck in limbo, without certainty or a clear pathway to protection.

This is all in the name of appeasing the US and warmongers who profit off conflict. To quote the CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, who has been a fierce advocate and champion for people rightly seeking our protection:

Australia and the United States are sending military forces to the Middle East in the name of liberating the people of Iran, while at the same time legislating so that they can shut the door on those very same people when they seek safety here—even when they already have a visa.

The Albanese government's actions today send a disturbing message about who is worthy of protection and who is not. I don't know if you can stoop any lower, Labor, but it's really hard to imagine it. I want to thank my colleague Senator Shoebridge for mounting as much of a challenge as possible to these draconian laws. I hope you give yourselves a slow clap and sleep well tonight.