Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish I didn't have to give this speech. On 2 August 2025, after the last parliamentary sitting, I took the first opportunity I had to visit the Hindu temple in Melbourne which was defaced with racist graffiti. I said to the community at the temple, and I repeat it here today, that I stood in solidarity with Australians of Indian heritage at the temple and that an attack on them was an attack on me; an attack on them was an attack on our Australian values.

Now I'm forced to take this, my first, opportunity to register how dismayed I am by a pamphlet which has been circulating and which has been brought to my attention by dear friends, Australians of Indian heritage, in relation to a march which is proposed to take place on 31 August. It refers to our Indian community in a way which is quite despicable, vile and unacceptable. I'm not going to repeat the statement which is contained in the pamphlet. It's been obtaining some press coverage during the course of the day. I just want to say to all Australians that this pamphlet and what is stated on it are causing great distress and concern to Australians of Indian heritage, including in my home state of Queensland. So I'm compelled to rise in this place at the earliest opportunity to call it out, to condemn it and to say that the language and references to Australians of Indian heritage are unacceptable. It is outrageous, it is despicable, and it seeks to divide Australians at a time when we need and should all seek to unite.

I say at this time to Australians of Indian heritage that your community is a great blessing for our beautiful country, for Australia. You belong, you are part of the Australian story, and you have brought so many wonderful things to our Australian community. I see the work, the businesses you engage in across this country and the magnificent contribution that you make when you bring your talents to bear. I see the work that you all do in the community. There is no group that helps Australians in need more than Australians of Indian heritage—at times of flood, at times of bushfire and at the time of the COVID pandemic. I can remember visiting the Sikh gurdwara at Eight Mile Plains, where they were preparing thousands and thousands of meals to be distributed to people in need; GOPIO Cairns reaching out to their fellow Queenslanders at the time of floods; and the Fiji Senior Citizens Association of Queensland reaching out to those who suffered in bushfires. Again and again and again, Australians of Indian heritage have reached out to help their fellow Australians.

You do not deserve what is contained in this vile pamphlet; you do not deserve it. You are a part of the Australian story, you belong, you make a wonderful contribution to our beautiful country, and you are the human bridge between Australia and India and so important for the future of this country. So I thank you for every single thing you do. The comments contained in this pamphlet represent the views of a very small minority, and we won't have it. We have parliamentarians of Indian heritage in this parliament, and they make a wonderful contribution. This sort of material needs to be called out in the strongest terms. Later in the year we will have the Diwali festival, one of the wonderful cultural celebrations our Indian community brings to Australia. I conclude my remarks with this: light will triumph over darkness, good will triumph over evil, and knowledge will triumph over ignorance. I rise and stand in solidarity with all Australians of Indian heritage.