Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
2:35 pm
Mr President, today in this chamber we have seen the most disgraceful, disrespectful and shameful behaviour, with a senator of this parliament mocking a community of decent, hardworking, law-abiding citizens of this country. There is no stronger example of why this parliament needs a parliamentary code of multicultural ethics than this. This is a proposal that has been put before this parliament before. Minister, will your government now consider adopting—
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
Sorry, the Attorney-General. Attorney-General, will your government consider adopting a parliamentary code of multicultural ethics that is compulsory, and that would prevent the actions that we've seen in this parliament today?
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
2:36 pm
Well, Senator Di Natale, I think this chamber has shown during this question time that it is perfectly able, through its own spontaneous voice, to deal with such matters.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
2:37 pm
Minister, Canada has a multicultural act. It enshrines principles of multiculturalism in legislation. Will this government consider the establishment of a multicultural act to enshrine in law protections for multicultural communities and for religious communities right across the country?
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Well, Senator, we have a Racial Discrimination Act and we have protections of religious freedom. We are committed to respecting all the different communities within Australia, whatever their national or ethnic origins and whatever their religious faiths.
As far as the parliament is concerned: as I said in answer to your primary question, I think this chamber, and the other place, is well able, by its own will, to indicate its support for and respect of all faiths and cultures.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
2:38 pm
Thank you, Attorney-General. Can I use the opportunity of my final supplementary question to congratulate the Attorney-General on his strong, impassioned and personal response? And on behalf of the Australian Greens, I want to thank you for showing leadership in this chamber—leadership that is so often lacking in this parliament.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party
It should have been ruled out of order.
Stephen Parry President
That is correct, Senator Macdonald; it should have been ruled out of order, but we will go to Senator Gallagher.