Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate:

1. Condemns the racist, white supremacist, and anti-immigrant rallies held over the weekend and condemns the support of and attendance at the rallies by MPs;

2. Notes:

a. That racism and anti-immigrant hate has been normalised and legitimised in this country by politicians and by the media who fan the flames of hate;

b. That dog whistling on migrants, refugees and international students by politicians of all stripes has emboldened the far-right;

c. That politicians have used hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises; and

d. That the alarm has been sounded on far-right extremism for years and has been routinely ignored; and

3. Reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, Neo-Nazism, and right-wing extremism.

On the weekend, Neo-Nazis and far-right extremists spoke and led marches across our cities publicising their hate and racism. Thousands of people joined them in the streets to call for an end to immigration and for the expulsion of—let's face it—people of colour from Australia.

This country's violent discrimination and racism started with colonisation and has never really stopped. In Melbourne, the Neo-Nazis stormed Camp Sovereignty; it was a despicable display of white supremacy. This rampage on the weekend should be a wake-up call that you all, in this chamber and in the other one, have either downplayed or fuelled this hate and racism. The far right have been emboldened. They are loud and they are on the move. And it has been coming for a while. So let's not pretend that racism and far-right extremism are not a problem in this country. Racism is the foundation of settler colonial states. It is not new. But it has been blatantly legitimised and normalised in the media and by politicians who seek to fan the flames of hate and division, and it is this that gives Neo-Nazis succour and it is the reason that they are emboldened.

Migrants like me have been told repeatedly to put up, shut up or go back to where I come from. Is it any wonder that the far right feel that they can publicise this racism on the streets as well? For migrants like me, our belonging to this country has always been conditional—conditional on keeping our heads down and our mouths shut. While we keep agreeing with those in power and doing the hard work that no-one else wants to do, then we are 'good migrants'. But as soon as we find our voice and have the temerity to question you, all hell breaks loose and we suddenly become 'bad migrants'.

These anti-immigrant marches do not happen in a vacuum. They cause real world impact and they cause real harm. Just this morning, I received this message: 'Eff you and piss off back to Pakistan. Australia is not your home. You're not welcome here. You're an effing dog.' Last week it was this: 'Maybe we come find you, rape you, shoot you and your family dead, slice off your tits and call it resistance.' And it is not to me alone; instances of vile racist hate and violence are directed at First Nations people, migrants, refugees and people of colour every single day in this country. And it is the people in here that normalise and legitimise this hate. It is harming people. It is making their lives miserable and unsafe.

Last year Labor passed some of the most draconian anti-refugee and anti-immigration laws we have ever seen in this country. Labor scapegoats international students for a housing crisis they did not cause. Labor and Liberals, for years, have punched down on migrants and refugees, in ways not even the Liberals dreamed up. For the past two years, Labor and the coalition have been smearing and vilifying pro-Palestine activists. They have been doing that while literal Nazis are marching on the streets of this country. I do hope that that is a wake-up call for all of you to change course and do something about far-right extremism, which you have been ignoring.

Then of course there are the merchants of hate right here in this chamber—the likes of One Nation, who have nothing to offer but their racism and white supremacy, to just cause division and hate. Politicians, the media and the government—

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Senator Faruqi. Senator Hanson?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want that comment withdrawn.

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson. I will just confer.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order, please! I am about to rule. Senator Faruqi, it is unparliamentary to cast aspersions over any other senator. I accept that you did name the party rather than an individual, but that is very, very close to the line. I'm going to be listening carefully to the rest of your speech and I ask that you maintain the standards that are required for debate in this chamber.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens condemn these anti-immigrant racist marches. We condemn the senators and MPs who supported and spoke at the marches. I know that the Labor government has an amendment to our motion, which waters down the motion, but in the interest of making sure that this chamber does something and makes a comment and agrees that what happened on the streets is something we should reject—even if they don't agree with the condemnation—the Greens will support that change.

It is on every single senator and MP, here and there, to make sure that they do not spew hate and racism and they do not scapegoat and blame migrants and refugees for their own policy failures; otherwise, this country will never be safe! (Time expired)

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the minister.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move an amendment in the terms circulated in the chamber:

Omit all words after "That the Senate", substitute:

(a) affirms that Australia is a nation that welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace;

(b) therefore rejects the racism, white supremacy and condemnation of immigrants on display at rallies held over the weekend, and profoundly disapproves of MPs supporting and attending these rallies;

(c) calls upon all political representatives to:

(i) reject the normalisation or legitimisation of racism and anti-immigrant hate in this country,

(ii) reject dog whistling on First Peoples, migrants, refugees and international students, which has emboldened the far-right,

(iii) reject any use of hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises,

(iv) reject any attempt to downplay or ignore concerns about far-right extremism, and

(v) stand together against far-right extremism as alien to Australia and the values of this nation; and

(d) reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, neo-Nazism and right-wing extremism.

Senators, our government has zero tolerance for hate and discrimination in all its forms. We are building a safer, more inclusive Australia for everyone. Every Australian, no matter their race or religion, should feel safe and welcome without prejudice or discrimination. I make what I think should be an obvious point, that multiculturalism is an integral and a valued part of our national identity. We stand with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and against those who seek to intimidate migrant communities. In targeting specific ethnic groups, like the wave of anti-Indian sentiment we saw over the weekend, is overt racism.

We are moving this amendment, in part, to respond to a proud history in this chamber. I've been here for 10 years now. On a number of occasions, the vast majority of senators in this place have been able to come together and to say clearly and unequivocally that we do not support bigotry, that we do not support prejudice and that we don't believe it is reflective of Australian values.

Senator Faruqi characterised our motion in a particular way. I don't agree with that. We have sought to move this amendment to do two things. Of course, we think this chamber should express what it means to be an Australian and what we seek to have Australia be. Australia welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace. Over the weekend, we saw people claiming to march for Australia while many of them, in fact, are in conflict with Australia's values of respect and inclusion. We are also amending this motion to be clearer about who it is that is promoting hate.

Senator Faruqi's motion says that all media and politicians of all stripes—presumably, including those of a green stripe—have been fanning the flames of hate. And just now Senator Faruqi doubled down on that idea. Those kinds of sweeping statements are wrong, and they are not productive. We do not believe that politicians and all media have been doing this. We should be promoting those who've been helping to build the Australia that we value, rather than condemning them by way of blanket statements. That isn't a way to build a broad, inclusive movement for peace and respect. No-one should have to confront the level of fear and oppression that was levied against migrant Australians and the Indian community in particular over the weekend. Those who are visibly different bear the brunt of anti-immigration sentiment. Our migrants, our minorities are blamed and scapegoated by a whole range of concerns. It's not accurate, it's not fair, and there should be no place for it in modern Australia.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition will also be moving an amendment in my name. The amendment that we propose to move does one very simple thing, which I would have thought, given the speech that Senator McAllister has just given on behalf of the government, would be a very easy amendment to support. Our amendment goes to the simple principle: Australia must defend free speech and peaceful assembly while drawing a hard line against extremism of every kind.

The coalition is concerned that a number of rallies yesterday were hijacked by a minority of Neo-Nazis. Let me be very clear, lest we are verballed. There is no place for Neo-Nazis in Australia. Their hatred and extremism are a disgrace, and they must be condemned without hesitation. We will not, however, support this motion, because it seeks to suggest that all attendees at the rallies over the weekend were racists and white supremacists. That is clearly not the case. Disappointingly, the amendment moved by the government does not draw a hard line against extremism of every kind.

It's also not lost on me—the irony of Senator Faruqi moving this motion is clear for everyone to see. This is very important for Australians to understand. This is the senator who marched in a rally a few weeks ago where individuals proudly held a portrait of the Ayatollah Khamenei carrying a machine gun. Now, Senator Faruqi, just like myself on behalf of the coalition, could have moved a motion condemning the extremists who hijacked the rally that she attended, but she did not. Quite frankly, Senator Faruqi has no credibility lecturing Australians about anti-extremism.

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, please resume your seat.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senators! Order! Everyone will come to order.

Senator McKim. I'm going to insist there be no interruptions at all to any speaker, as has been the courtesy given to other speakers already. Senator Cash, back to you.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi was quick to condemn those who attended anti-immigration rallies, yet she had no hesitation marching across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a protest where terrorist flags were flown and extremist chants rang out. Australians, though, can see the double standard. Ordinary mum and dads concerned about Labor losing control of immigration and in particular the impact on housing are smeared and vilified, but when Hamas and Hezbollah banners are paraded in our streets Senator Faruqi and, unfortunately, it would appear, given the government's amendment, the government, not only look the other way; but, quite frankly, in Senator Faruqi's case, she joins the crowd.

As I said, we have a simple principle in the coalition: Australia must defend free speech and peaceful assembly while drawing a hard line against extremism of every kind. The overwhelming majority of Australians who join rallies and protests do so peacefully and lawfully. Their right to do so is a cornerstone of our democracy and must always be protected. But when extremists attempt to hijack those rallies, whether they be Neo-Nazis, pro-Iranian agitators or terrorist sympathisers, as we have seen over the last few weeks, the line must be drawn.

Neo-Nazi symbols have appeared at immigration rallies. That is an absolute disgrace. Pro-Iranian extremists have sought to intimidate communities. That is an absolute disgrace. Most disturbingly, the flags and slogans of proscribed terrorist organisations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, have been displayed openly on Australian streets, including across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Let me say that that is an absolute disgrace. These are not legitimate political statements. They are acts of intimidation designed to spread fear and glorify violence.

I have a very, very strong message for the government: the Senate cannot be selective in its condemnation. Hate is hate; extremism is extremism. The Senate must apply one standard—not one for one group that Labor finds it politically expedient to denounce and another for those it prefers to excuse.

The amendment, moved on behalf of the coalition, ensures that principle is upheld. It calls for the strict enforcement of the laws we already have against glorifying terrorism and inciting violence. I'm actually astounded that the government is not able to adopt our amendment. If they did, the Senate would make clear that we defend the right of Australians to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate those who seek to poison our democracy with swastikas, terrorist flags or pro-dictatorship propaganda.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank Senator Faruqi for coming in here and telling the truth, for coming in here—as she has time after time after time—to face the barrage of hate from the coalition that comes at her and for continuing to stand and speak the truth with strength. We heard yet another barrage of hate from the coalition just then—the coalition who are going to come into this place and use their numbers in this debate to run cover for Neo-Nazis, to prevent the Senate passing a motion condemning Neo-Nazis, as part of their hateful, divisive, ugly politics that so often they direct against Senator Faruqi.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hate to interrupt you, but I ask you to be seated. Senators, given the sensitivity of the debate I'm going to insist, again, that everyone please listen to the contributions in silence. If you want an opportunity to speak, you will be given it.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion is condemning the racist, white supremacist and anti-immigrant rallies held over the weekend and condemns the support of, and attendance at, the rallies by MPs. Do you know what those in the coalition are going to do? They are going to vote against it because they want to be in a position to platform Neo-Nazis as part of their general attack against multiculturalism. To watch them come in here and run cover for Neo-Nazis is a new low. To run cover for those MPs and senators who went to attend and spread hateful politics attacking multiculturalism and attacking migrants is equally low. But they'll do it, because that's their politics—that's where they come from. It's a shameful, shameful low that the coalition has fallen to in 2025.

But I think we should take a step back and work out who also has been giving cover for anti-immigrant, anti-asylum seeker and anti-refugee politics. It's the club—it's Labor and the coalition. The coalition has the bigger dog whistle, but who has actually been passing the nastier laws and been feeding the anti-immigrant, anti-asylum-seeker rhetoric? Well, in the last three years, it has been Labor passing laws that are the most vicious attack on multiculturalism this country has seen since we abolished the White Australia policy.

In the same week that they're up speaking about their support for multiculturalism and their opposition to racism, they're going to be trying to ram through this parliament laws that take away procedural justice rights for people seeking asylum. In the same weekend that they were condemning these rallies, they were out there pumping their secret deal with Nauru to deport people who have sought asylum—against their wills and contrary to the refugee convention with Nauru—and to dog-whistle about that themselves. I'll give you two quotes that happened this weekend. Here's quote A: 'We need to send them back—no debate, no discussion.' I'll give you quote B:

Anyone who doesn't have a valid visa should leave the country.

One of those quotes was given by a Neo-Nazi at a rally on the weekend and one of them was given by a Labor government minister on the weekend. The fact that you cannot tell one from the other shows where modern Labor has got to. It shows what they're willing to do: on the one hand, pretend to oppose the coalition but, on the other, drive the political debate that demonises asylum seekers and seeks to say—as they have time and time again in their public utterances—that people coming here to seek asylum are somehow inherently criminal. And they seek to say that people who are seeking relief in the High Court are inherently criminal, to try and to give themselves political cover for their appalling laws. Every time they do that, every time Labor ministers and Labor members come up here and seek to demonise people seeking asylum, seek to draw a false equivalence between seeking asylum and being a criminal, they give the coalition cover for their dog whistle and they give the hateful neo-Nazis who came out on the weekend another reason to beat up on multicultural Australia, beat up on people of colour. That is what Labor has done.

Government senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Shoebridge, please resume your seat. Senator O'Sullivan previously said this debate will be heard in silence, so respect the call from the acting deputy president, and the debate will continue in silence.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you look at the history of who has passed the most hateful laws against asylum seekers, pretty much every time it's Labor.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every time!

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every time. Mandatory detention? Labor. Who cuts the Nauru deals and the attacks? It's Labor—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, which bit of 'silence' did you not understand?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He wasn't interrupting me.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, if you can't listen in silence, please leave the chamber.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor, Labor, Labor, attack, attack, attack, dog whistle, dog whistle, dog whistle—and they wonder why neo-Nazis are getting up on the weekend and attacking immigration, falsely trying to draw that parallel.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We say enough is enough.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Shoebridge.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you care enough about multiculturalism, vote for it!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, your time has expired! You need to respect my call as well. When I call time, that is what I mean.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For everyone following along at home and listening to the rhetoric, particularly from the Greens, let me read the coalition's amendment, put it on the record, as you might not have it in front of you:

Omit all words after "That the Senate", substitute:

"(a) reaffirms Australia's commitment to free speech and lawful assembly, and condemns all forms of extremism, intimidation, and violence, regardless of the cause;

(b) condemns the recent disruption of public rallies by Neo-Nazis, pro-Iranian Government extremists and those supporting terrorist organisations; and

(c) condemns the public display of symbols, slogans, or imagery that glorify or support proscribed terrorist organisations and urges the strict enforcement of existing laws against the glorification of terrorism and incitement to violence".

I am astounded that this is somehow a cause for debate, and I'm appalled that the party of government in this place finds itself unable to support an amendment as balanced as the one that we've put forward as a mature response to Senator Faruqi's motion.

The reality is that the one thing that unites new Australians and old Australians is a love of our country. Being a patriot isn't being a racist. We, on this side of the chamber, actually support the right to peaceful protest. We back our police, who put themselves in harm's way to keep order. Fringe extremists who tried to hijack the weekend's rallies deserve zero endorsement from anyone in this place. Their ideology is the opposite of Australian values. But let's be very clear. The vast majority of people at those rallies and the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Australians who support them but didn't go were expressing mainstream concerns about unchecked population growth, housing and social cohesion—concerns that we actually must hear, not attempt to smear, which is what is happening today. Senior ministers condemned the rallies and highlighted only extremist links. Senator Watt said they spread hate and were linked to Neo-Nazis. We reject both the hate and the tactic of tarring the many with the actions of a few. Old and new Australians alike want a safe, cohesive, confident nation. That's the Australia we speak for.

Last week, the Greens promoted a bill to entrench the national right to protest. This week, they want us to censor people who protest. Senator Faruqi herself has participated in marches with supporters of terrorist groups, sharing the platform with Hamas supporters and sympathisers, Iranian militants and antisemites. So spare us your sanctimony, your hypocrisy and your self-righteousness. You're happy to march alongside pictures of the Ayatollah Khomeini, who actually ordered a now proscribed terrorist organisation to bomb a synagogue in our country. But that's okay—we're really only worried about the Neo-Nazis! We should be worried about it all. Jew-hating, gay-hating and women-hating protesters on the other side need to be called out as well. It's ridiculous to suggest that everyone marching on the weekend was a Neo-Nazi, just as it would be ridiculous for me to suggest that those who marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge were all terrorists. They're equally ridiculous contentions. That's why the coalition's amendment to this motion is a sound, sensible, mature response to a problem that doesn't just exist in this chamber but has spilt over into the streets of capital cities right across our country.

I'm not a globalist—like the Greens and many now in Labor are—who imagines a world without borders. A sovereign nation sets its intake of immigration in the national interest and with community consent. The Lowy Institute's poll suggests that 53 per cent of Australians say our immigration settings are too high and are having negative social, economic and, I would suggest, environmental impacts in our community. I'm prepared to have an open and honest conversation about that. I just wish the government was too.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to just make a few comments in response to some of the comments that have been made during this debate. In particular—supporting the comments that Senator McAllister has made—our government has zero tolerance for hate and discrimination in all its forms. Senator Shoebridge, you might like to listen to this.

We are working towards building a safer and more inclusive Australia for everyone, and the opportunity presented to the Senate this afternoon is to come together and respond to what we saw on the weekend. It is to see what we saw on the weekend and come together, just like we did in the wake of the October 7 attacks and just like we did when Senator Anning made some comments that we, as a parliament and as a chamber, decided weren't on. Those opportunities were often led by Senator Cormann or Senator Birmingham, coming in here and working with us. The government and the opposition would work together to reach agreement on a position about the way forward. But what do we see here today? We see finger-pointing across the chamber—from down there to up here—and the stirring of social division.

It's in no-one's interest in this chamber to make a stand and say that what we saw on the weekend was very concerning, is it? We saw issues around housing and around our migration program being hijacked under the umbrella of Neo-Nazi far-right organisations. That is what we saw, and that is what we should be responding to. Instead, we have the Greens political party standing up here and pointing the finger at the government.

Senator Shoebridge, your comments were disgraceful. They do no credit to you at all. We see you for what you are. You are stirring the pot and trying, as usual, to make a political point when the point that needed to be made following yesterday was about the kind of country we are. Look at what happens.

You do it, Senator Shoebridge, and the opposition do it too. There was no attempt to reach agreement on what a motion might be like. I know attempts were made to work with the opposition about the way of dealing with this, and those attempts by the government to work together and reach an agreement on a position that this Senate could take were not responded to. Instead, we have finger-pointing from Senator Cash and Senator McKenzie, who are asking, 'What's wrong with our amendment?'

We have an amendment put before the chamber that is better than yours, Senator Cash. Yes, there are elements of your amendment that we would support, but ours is stronger. Our amendment incorporates other feedback that we've had from Senator Thorpe, and I flagged that we would be moving amendments to the amendment circulated by Senator McAllister to incorporate some of the points that Senator Thorpe has raised with us about recognising the harm that has been done to First Nations people and also acknowledging what happened when those in Melbourne attacked Camp Sovereignty yesterday.

That is the opportunity before the Senate. Can we agree on a way forward? It might not be what everybody wants in all places, but, honestly, can't this chamber be slightly mature today and believe in this country and the national interest as opposed to partisan political interests? We see it again in the amendments moved by Senator Cash for business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 coming on later today. We see the legitimising of the pursuit of what was sought at the rallies yesterday into a reference to a committee. That is what you are doing, Senator Cash. You know full well what this is about. You, the opposition, a former party of government that had some standards, are prepared to trash that so that you can give air and time and a platform to the likes of what we saw yesterday. That is what you are up to—a party of government, a proud party that used to be—

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I believe that is impugning the motives of Senator Cash as to the intention of her motion later today.

The:

I think that's a debating point, Senator O'Sullivan.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is where we're at today. The Greens are pointing the finger at the Labor Party. The opposition are pointing the finger at the Labor Party. One Nation is pointing the finger at the Labor Party. No-one is prepared to say what happened yesterday was not on. We are political leaders, and we should stand against racism. We should stand against division. We should stand against platforms when issues are hijacked to pursue another motive, which is causing harm to our multicultural community and to our First Nations community. That is what happened yesterday. My bet is that this chamber will not be mature enough to deal with it today. Let's see if we can come out of this with a motion that stands up for our country.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The time for the debate has now expired. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just seek some guidance. I need to confirm: did Senator Gallagher make a statement to the chamber that I, on behalf of the opposition, did not respond to Senator Wong in relation to our position on the government's amendment? I'm seeking clarification as to whether that statement was made and then what my recourse is to ensure that statement is corrected.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, I still think that's a debating point, and I'm going to leave it there.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How is it a debating point if I've been misrepresented?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because it is a debating point. It's not a point of order. You have made that clarification, Senator Cash. You have made your point. It's not for the minister to respond.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a one-minute statement to ensure that the record is properly corrected and I can read out my response to Senator Wong and her responses to me that occurred prior to the commencement of this debate.

Leave not granted.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The option is that you can have your one minute now, if you wish. The minister has also said she's happy to seek it later.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson-Young, I think we're trying to resolve this. Senator Cash is entitled to seek a point of clarification.

And then she sought leave.

Leave was not granted, and then Minister Gallagher said she was—

The:

I don't need you singing out without any authority, thank you, Senator Shoebridge. As I indicated to the chamber, I am simply trying to sort this out. If leave is not granted—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Shoebridge. Next time I try to sort something out for you, I will remember that it's only the standing orders that apply. I am very sorry, Senator Cash. Leave is not granted. We are going to deal with the amendments. There are a number.

Senator Thorpe, the time for the debate has expired.

You can seek leave. Is leave granted for Senator Thorpe to move an amendment? Leave is granted, Senator Thorpe. It has been circulated?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it has been circulated. I'm going through the proper process. I move the amendment:

Senator Thorpe, by leave, moved the following amendment to Senator McAllister's amendment:

Omit paragraphs (a) to (d), substitute:

condemns:

the racist, white supremacist and anti-immigrant rallies held over the weekend and condemns the support of and attendance at the rallies by MPs, and

the far-right extremist neo-Nazis, including the National Socialist Network, who in Melbourne attacked Camp Sovereignty, a site of Aboriginal resistance and sacred resting place of 38 Nations;

notes that:

racism and anti-immigrant hate has been normalised and legitimised in this country by politicians and by the media who fan the flames of hate,

dog whistling on First Peoples, migrants, refugees and international students by politicians of all stripes has emboldened the far right,

politicians have used hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises,

the alarm has been sounded on far-right extremism for years and has been routinely ignored, and

the far-right movement in this country is a continuation of the original violence and genocide against First Peoples that has occurred since invasion;

reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, neo-Nazism and right-wing extremism; and

calls on the Government to:

condemn these white supremacist attacks, and

ensure the Australian Federal Police investigates the attacks on Camp Sovereignty as hate crimes and acts of terrorism.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Thorpe be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that Senator Cash's amendment be agreed to.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the amendment to Senator McAllister's amendment as circulated in the chamber:

The Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) moved the following amendment to Senator McAllister's amendment:

Omit paragraphs (c) and (d), substitute:

(c) condemns the far-right extremist neo-Nazis, including the National Socialist Network, who in Melbourne attacked Camp Sovereignty, a site of Aboriginal resistance and sacred resting place of 38 Nations;

(d) calls upon all political representatives to:

(i) reject the normalisation or legitimisation of racism and anti-immigrant hate in this country,

(ii) reject dog whistling on First Peoples, migrants, refugees and international students, which has emboldened the far right,

(iii) reject any use of hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises,

(iv) reject any attempt to downplay or ignore concerns about far-right extremism, and

(v) stand together against far-right extremism as alien to Australia and the values of this nation; and

(e) reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, neo-Nazism and right-wing extremism.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that amendment moved by Senator Gallagher be agreed to.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(In division) Does this mean you support the Neo-Nazis?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, order!

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is this what this means?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe!

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're a bunch of racists?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe! Order!

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're a bunch of racists! You are the problem here in this country. You are—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Stop the count. Senator Thorpe, you will come to order when I require it.

Order! That is unnecessary! Senator Thorpe!

Senator Thorpe! Stop the count.

Order, Senator McKenzie! I would ask that you respect the chair. When I call for order, that's exactly what I expect. I'm now dealing with Senator McAllister's amendment to Senator Faruqi's motion. The question is that the amendment be agreed to. Senator Roberts?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We'd like to split part of amendment, part (a) from parts (b), (c) and (d).

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts has requested that part (a) of the amendment be dealt with separately. I will put part (a) first. The question is that part (a) of the amendment moved by Senator McAllister be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

I am now going to put the rest of that amendment. The question that parts (b), (c) and (d) of the amendment moved by Senator McAllister be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion as amended be agreed to.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the earlier debate on social cohesion, I said that Senator Cash had not responded to attempts by the government to engage and reach agreement on the way forward. I should have been clearer. It is not correct to say that Senator Cash didn't respond, but we were not able to reach an agreement on the way forward.