Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 210 standing in my name relating to hate speech.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) condemns the actions of Mr Christensen MP and Senator Bernardi in attending the Q Society of Australia Inc fundraising dinner in Melbourne even after learning of the deeply homophobic and Islamophobic nature of the Sydney event;

(b) notes that Prime Minister Mr Malcolm Turnbull's failure to rein in Mr Christensen MP fails to reassure the LGBTI community and people of Islamic faith that the Prime Minister and the Coalition value diversity and equality;

(c) notes that Senator Hanson was expelled from the Liberal Party for her racist views;

(d) calls on the Prime Minister to condemn Mr Christensen MP for attending the Q Society event; and

(e) calls on all leaders of all political parties to condemn hate-speech in all forms.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is yet another cheap Green stunt. We are the most successful multicultural society in the world. This motion seeks to divide rather than unite.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was a time when views expressed by people like Mr Christensen were not welcome in this place. There was a time when there was a consensus that we as a vibrant, diverse multicultural society accepted that there was no place for racism in the Australian parliament. Indeed, it was the time when Senator Hanson herself was disendorsed from the Liberal Party for her racist and bigoted views. Now we have Mr Christensen attending an event where people boast of throwing gay people from buildings; where there is outright hostility and hatred towards people of the Islamic faith. We now have the spectacle where the Liberal Party are preferencing One Nation, really signalling the complete capitulation of the modern Liberal Party, who have endorsed, through their actions, the views of people like Senator Hanson. Racism and bigotry should have no place in the Australian parliament.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Di Natale be agreed to.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move general business motion 215, standing in my name:

That the Senate—

(a) notes speakers at a Q Society of Australia Inc fundraiser in Sydney said "I can't stand Muslims", "The NSW Division of the Liberal Party is basically a gay club" and, in relation to ISIS, "They are not all bad, they do chuck pillow­ biters off buildings";

(b) notes the Government was represented at the fundraiser by the Member for Dawson;

(c) rejects these comments which have no place in modern Australia or respectful political discourse; and

(d) calls on all parliamentarians to repudiate such remarks and sentiments.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been given 60 seconds to talk about the Australian far right. I do not need that long. They are a bunch of homophobic Islamophobic extremists. The only thing free in their speech is the nakedness of their hate. The multicultural Australia that we love is better than the white Australia that they desire.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government condemns the remarks quoted in the motion but opposes this motion as it is factually incorrect. It is not correct to say the government was represented at this function by the member for Dawson. We are the most successful multicultural society in the world.

Question put.

The Senate divided. [15:56]

(The President—Senator Parry)