David Van Victoria, Liberal Party
4:49 pm
I advise that Senator Hughes has added her name to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Dean Smith and Hughes, move:
That the Senate notes that—
(a) Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world, and this success can be credited to the substantial contributions migrants bring to this country;
(b) the increased reporting of racist attacks across the country, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having on individuals and local communities, is concerning;
(c) coronavirus does not discriminate against any race – it does not infect people based on family heritage and no Australian should ever face aggressive acts based on their race or heritage;
(d) the actions of those who undertake such cowardly behaviour must be condemned in the strongest manner possible, and their behaviour does not represent Australians or Australian society as a whole; and
(e) the Government taken swift action to call out racist behaviour and condemn the actions that seek to divide our socially cohesive nation.
Anne Urquhart Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion.
Leave granted.
I move:
Omit paragraph (e), substitute:
(e) the Federal Government has not funded a national anti-racism campaign in seven years; and calls on the Morrison Government to:
(i) implement a national anti-racism strategy that takes a zero-tolerance approach to racism, and
(ii) implement a national anti-racism campaign.
Question negatived.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
4:50 pm
by leave—We record that the Labor Party supported our amendment.
Pauline Hanson Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party
by leave—One Nation opposed the amendment.
Anne Urquhart Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
Could I ask that we vote on (a) through to (d) and then (e) separately.
Scott Ryan President
So I will put clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of motion No. 542 en bloc. The question is that those clauses be agreed to.
Question agreed to.
The question is that clause (e) of that motion be opposed.
Question agreed.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
4:51 pm
by leave—We record that the Labor Party voted against.
Nick McKim Tasmania, Australian Greens
by leave—The Greens are in opposition, against clause (e). I'd like that recorded.