Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
12:08 pm
I move:
That the Senate—
(a) notes the contribution to Australia's vibrant multicultural society by citizens of all cultures and religions;
(b) condemns anyone who vilifies any cultural or religious group;
(c) notes:
(i) the application by Dutch politician Mr Geert Wilders to visit Australia to speak against multiculturalism and Muslim immigration, and
(ii) with alarm, his public statements describing Muslim culture as retarded and barbaric and comparing the Koran to Mein Kampf; and
(d) calls on all members of the Australian Parliament to reject the hateful anti-Muslim views of Mr Wilders and his Australian sponsors.
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations
12:09 pm
Mr President, I seek leave to make a brief statement.
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations
Thank you, Mr President. We are not going to support a motion condemning a member of parliament from another country for the views that they express. The parliament has legislated a visa regime that ensures that all visa applications are assessed appropriately and other provisions in domestic law relating to racial and religious vilification.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
Mr President, I think it is critically important that we do support this motion, particularly on the back of the recent protests in Sydney. Multiculturalism is one of this country's enduring successes. There are people here, and right across the world, who are prepared to tear it down. We know that Geert Wilders has put in an application for a visa to come to this country and we know that there are members of this place who actually support his hateful views. We have had Senator Bernardi, who is currently in hiding in the UK, describe Mr Wilders as a 'charming and charismatic individual'. In fact, he supported his views and said he wanted to facilitate his visit to this country.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer
Mr President, I rise on a point of order: I think that the comments that are made by the senator are not consistent with the requirements under the standing orders for brief statements.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
What was the imputation, sorry, Mr President?
John Hogg President
I do not traverse. I am asking you to withdraw the imputation.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
I am not sure what I am withdrawing.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
We have Senator Bernardi, who is, to use the opposition leader, Mr Tony Abbott's words, 'freelancing on the backbench'.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. There are requirements involved that are applicable to all senators when it comes to providing brief statements in the context of these motions. The senator is not complying with the requirements under standing orders in the context of brief statements.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
I asked for clarification of the offending comments.
John Hogg President
No, I do not clarify; I do not repeat offending comments. You are aware of what the offending comments are in respect of Senator Bernardi.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
The point is I am not aware. I just want some clarification.
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Mr President, I rise on a point of order: Senator Di Natale was reflecting on a member of the Senate, and he should withdraw that reflection.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
If those reflections relate to the words 'in hiding', I withdraw those. I do say, however, that not to support this motion is to condone Senator Cory Bernardi's support of Geert Wilders—a hateful, spiteful and corrosive figure. To not support this motion indicates support for those views.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
12:13 pm
Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
I thank the Senate. This motion must have been written with the word tartuffery in mind. It is hypocritical piety. You read:
(b) condemns anyone who vilifies any cultural or religious group;
Let us think about the Australian Greens behaviour. For example, on 3 April 2004, the Australian Greens leader called for a public register of all Exclusive Brethren workplaces. What is that, if that is not vilification of a particular religious group—which, chances are, none of us in this place would actually agree with? Or what about the vicious BDS campaign that the Greens have supported over the years? (Time expired)