Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, as shown at item No. 15 of today's Order of Business:

The need for the Australian Government to take immediate action to tackle racism, the emboldening of the far-right and the rise of neo-Nazism and reject white supremacy and extremism as evidenced by the anti-immigrant 'March for Australia', the violent attack on Camp Sovereignty, and the racist rally outside NSW Parliament.

Is consideration of the proposal supported?

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clock in line with the informal arrangements made by the whips.

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

I move:

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The need for the Australian Government to take immediate action to tackle racism, the emboldening of the far-right and the rise of neo-Nazism and reject white supremacy and extremism as evidenced by the anti-immigrant 'March for Australia', the violent attack on Camp Sovereignty, and the racist rally outside the New South Wales Parliament.

The far right is surging and racism is rising because politicians and the media have spent years dog whistling, scapegoating and stoking resentment. Now the consequences are erupting all around us. Communities are scared; hate crimes are rising; Neo-Nazis are emboldened. Politicians and the media cannot now pretend to be shocked that the wolves have arrived at the door.

Racism is raging more openly and more viciously than I have ever seen in my time in this country, and the far right is gaining ground and not just because of their own bile; they get a free kick from the Liberal Party, which is now so desperate for relevance that it jumps to answer the calls of open racists. Just weeks after Neo-Nazis marched through our streets calling for an end to Indian immigration and the expulsion of black and brown communities from what they call 'white Australia', what did the Liberals do? They called for an 'Australian values' screening for migrants—as though the people who come here fleeing war, poverty and persecution are the ones who lack values, and not the politicians who demonise them every single day.

But even trickier to confront than the open hatred spewed by the Liberal Party is the sly racism executed by a political party that claims to know better—Labor—because, while the Liberals shout their racism loudly, Labor writes it quietly into law. In Victoria, a Labor government has announced laws allowing children to be locked up for life—laws that we all know will disproportionately incarcerate First Nations and black and brown children. There is nothing more racist than designing a justice system whose default setting is to punish the marginalised.

In New South Wales, the Minns government green-lights Neo-Nazi gatherings on the steps of parliament, while passing draconian anti-protest laws targeted squarely at pro-Palestine protesters calling out Australia's complicity in genocide. They have criminalised dissent rather than confronting their own failures.

And the Albanese government has set a shameful national standard. The government's anti-refugee and anti-migrant legislation has been cruel, unnecessary and deeply shameful.

But there is another truth that we must not shy away from. The far right grows in the cracks of inequality. It feeds on desperation. It recruits from the communities governments have abandoned. When people cannot afford rent, when they're working three jobs just to stay afloat and when the cost of living is crushing them and they see no political will to change it, the far right steps in with someone to blame.

If this government is serious about change, it must tackle racism and it must tackle the economic conditions that allow racism to grow. We cannot ignore the housing crisis, the skyrocketing cost of living and rising inequality and then act shocked when the far right exploits people's fears and frustrations. We need real investment in public and affordable housing. We need a rent freeze. We need to lift income support above the poverty line. We need fair wages, secure jobs, free education and an economy built on care and community, not on extraction and exploitation, because, when people have stability, dignity and a roof over their head, they are not so easily seduced by those peddling hate.

The Albanese government is failing to do their primary job—to look after people—and that failure has fed the far right, who are now marching openly on the streets in our cities. They're on the verge of forming a white Australia party. They call for a white revolution. They train. They recruit. They celebrate hate.

So today I make this plea. Open your eyes. Drop the denial. Stop gaslighting people who highlight racism and the many failures of this government. Face the racism that is spilling onto the streets and dripping off the walls of this parliament.

This is not a moment of political calculation. This is not a moment for more inquiries or envoys. This is a moment for courage, for truth, for justice and for action.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move the amendment in the terms circulated in the chamber:

The need for the Australian Government and all political leaders to commit to tackle racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, the emboldening of the far-right and the rise of neo-Nazism and reject white supremacy and extremism as evidenced by the anti-immigrant 'March for Australia', attacks on Jewish and Muslim communities, the violent attack on Camp Sovereignty, and the racist rally outside the New South Wales Parliament.

I will make a few comments on behalf of the government in the broader debate. After what we have seen here over the course of the last 24 or 36 hours, I do think it is important that this chamber has something to say about the way that we, as political leaders, as the government and as senators in this chamber, should deal with questions of racism and social inclusion and how we believe that Australia is a pluralist country that incorporates people of all faiths and all religions.

The reason that the government's amendments are there is that we also believe that how we oppose racism and exclusion matters. I have seen the proposed amendments and the original motion. Not every MPI debate is of great importance, but I do think it's important that what emerges from this debate today is that we start to improve the standard of debate in this place and the way that we, as senators, engage with this set of challenges. I do think that there has been a lack of seriousness and a lack of responsibility about the way that we approach these issues. This was no better symbolised than by Senator Hanson's behaviour in the chamber yesterday and her refusal to account for that in the context of the debate today.

I have never been more horrified, in the context of a debate in this chamber, than when I heard what Senator Babet had to say as an interjection in the course of the debate. I say to people who pretend to be patriotic Australians and who wrap themselves in the flag: real, decent, patriotic Australians shrink from that kind of vileness. I have never heard a comment in this chamber more repulsive. It would repel every decent Australian, and it should be absolutely repudiated by every single person here. As I say, the way that we conduct these debates does matter. The way that we approach these questions matters. I think it was right for Senator Wong this morning to point to the way that Senator Cormann, when he was the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and Senator Wong worked together, whether it was in response to former senator Anning's revolting comments or in response to the Christchurch massacre. There was no equivocation and no mucking around. They were thinking about the interests of the Senate as an important democratic institution and coming up with a set of words that could unite Australians and send a message, not just to voters but to little girls and little boys at school, about what this place stands for.

That's why the government has moved the amendments in the way that we have. It is impossible, I think, for decent people not to commit to tackling racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia and to being concerned about the rise of Neo-Nazis, white supremacy and far-right extremism. The Prime Minister was right to say that not everybody who goes to a march has those characteristics, but those March for Australia marches were organised by Neo-Nazis, who were openly expressing, manipulating and using that platform. We should be opposed to attacks on Muslim and Jewish communities, the attack on Camp Sovereignty and indeed that outrageous racist rally outside the New South Wales parliament. It's not just about what the government does; it's about what each of us as political leaders do. (Time expired)

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

Senator Ruston, are you seeking to move an amendment to the amendment?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will not be moving my amendment, but I would like to make a small contribution. I acknowledge that the government has moved this amendment and that the Greens have apparently accepted the amendment, which reflects the fact that all forms of racism and extremism need to be called out, following the coalition's refusal to support an incomplete and one-sided motion that was originally put forward by the Greens. If you stand against racism, you stand against all forms of racism. In supporting this motion, I put on the record that there were many Australians who attended the March for Australia rally who did so because they had legitimate concerns at the level of migration. We do not believe that those people should be caught up in this motion. The coalition condemns all forms of racism, and I encourage all senators in this place to do the same. It's critical that the Albanese government shows some leadership and takes action to protect the social cohesion of this nation. Extremism has no place in Australia, no matter what side of the political divide you come from.

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to acknowledge everyone in this chamber this afternoon who has worked together so that we could have a set of words we can all coalesce around. On the question of race we should all come together to make unequivocal statements about the standards that we seek to maintain in Australia—that we seek to be a country which protects all people against any form of discrimination and which acknowledges that there have been too many Australians in these past few years who have been hurt by extreme ideology. I put on record the many Indian Australians, in particular, who were offended by the organisers of the March for Australia rallies. There were people who were grievously hurt by the statements made at those rallies and in the lead-up. No Australian should feel that they are under attack in their own country. I put on record those facts.

I also put on record, in relation to this motion, the reality that the Sydney Jewish community had to wake up to, with a bunch of Nazis standing in front of the state parliament of New South Wales, Australia's oldest parliament, holding placards saying 'abolish the Jewish lobby'. These events are all linked, and no person's experience is more important than anyone else's. The fact is that the way that we treat minority groups shows the standard that we are prepared to maintain in our society. That goes for any minority group, whether it be an Indian Australian group or a Jewish group, that has been exposed to these forms of deliberate discrimination, which is designed by its perpetrators to tee off on minority groups, because their nasty, mean politics is all based on playing to a small base of people. It is vindictive and wrong.

That's why I want to acknowledge all the leaders today—Senator Ruston, Senator Ayres, the Greens, Senator Wong and others—who have been able to bring us together to agree on a set of words that we can all support. The parliament is working at its best when we can show that there is a community standard represented by all the different groups with all their different life experiences and engagements across the community. So I want to put on record that this is the leadership that I believe Australians are looking for. Australians are looking for leadership at a time of great discord and division. We are not a nation of tribes. We are great, diverse country. Over the past few years, not because of anyone's particular fault, we have not always maintained the standards expected of us, so this a very important occasion for us to be able to maintain the standards that Australians want us to have here in parliament.

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

Racism is dangerous, and we feel it deeply and physically in our bodies. White people wouldn't understand that, because you have to be black or brown to feel and know what that feels like. It is a toxin that creates disease and distress in the body, and it is a root cause of inequity that shortens lives, worsens disease and drives mental distress globally. The Lancet journal declared racism a global public health emergency. It shapes who gets sick, who gets care and who survives. Research from the Mayi Kuwayu study found almost half of First Nations adults experience high psychological distress linked to everyday racism and that racism alone accounts for nearly half the mental health gap between First Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. As Dr Chelsea Watego reminds us, it is not just about health justice; it is about sovereignty. Our very presence is a reminder to the colonisers that their sovereignty is illegitimate. That is the truth this government must confront. Our poor health outcomes are not accidental but the direct result of a colonial project that still controls our lands, our bodies and our futures. The understanding of racism and its impacts in this place is so superficial, so black and white. This week showed us how the government benefits from Nazis, Pauline Hanson and Andrew Bolt, because it lets them say: 'Look over there! Those are the real racists.' But it is the government who has the power, and it is its violent policies, no matter who is in power, that manufacture circumstances that make us sick.

This government does not have a good track record on racism. The Albanese driven referendum ignited a brutal national backlash that tore through our communities, and, ever since, Labor has left us exposed to the unchecked violence of the states and territories. It's no surprise when you have Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who told me I needed mental health support while I was standing up to white supremacists, and President Sue Lines, who called my message stick with over 500 notches for deaths in custody a prop and cut off the microphone when I was speaking of the death or murder in custody of my first cousin Josh Kerr. Then we have Minister Gallagher, who tried to lecture brown women on racism earlier today. We need to stop showing respect to racism. Racism is stupidity, and it is not— (Time expired)

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I stand in this chamber today to say clearly, without hesitation and without any qualification, that racism and Neo-Nazism have no place in this country—not in our streets, not in our institutions, not in our public discourse and not in our future. Recent events in this country have shown us why this message must be stated so plainly. Whether it's the stunts that we've seen like those in the Senate this week or the groups of Neo-Nazis brazenly marching through our cities, chanting some of the same slogans that Hitler used and other things that I won't list, the fact that these displays occurred at all is an affront to our national values and an insult to every community that has suffered from hatred, discrimination and organised violence. We have seen hateful attacks on the Jewish community, the Muslim community and First Nations communities. These incidents aren't just fringe. They aren't just protests. They are not misunderstandings, political disagreements or cultural differences. They are expressions of ideologies built on dehumanisation, and they are disgusting. They are ideologies responsible for some of the worst atrocities in human history. Racism and Neo-Nazism are designed to divide, to degrade, to exclude and ultimately to harm. They disgracefully operate by painting some people as less human and others as superior. They thrive on fear, lies and violence.

We live in a truly multicultural society. We are a nation built by many cultures, languages and stories. Our history, from over 65,000 years ago to today, is filled with stories of struggle, of joy, of resilience and of community—Sudanese nurses, Vietnamese grocers, Indian engineers, Lebanese artists, Aboriginal agriculturalists. We are the most successful multicultural country in the world, combined with the oldest continuous culture, and that is something to truly celebrate. There is absolutely no room for racism here. We stand with modern Australia against hate, against racism, against Neo-Nazism and against white supremacy. Nothing could be less Australian.

This government remains firmly committed to ensuring that extremist ideologies that promote hate or violence are never normalised in our society. In February, the Australian parliament passed the Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Act, containing the toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes. These laws matter because, unchecked, hatred can quickly turn into violence, and we've seen the devastating impacts of this.

We are not a perfect nation, but we are a nation that overwhelmingly rejects hate. When racism or fascist ideology appears, we must recognise it for what it is: it is a poison, a danger and a direct threat to who we are and who we aspire to be. We reject racism outright. We reject antisemitism outright. We reject white supremacy outright. We reject Neo-Nazism outright. We stand with all Australians who share the views and the values of fairness, justice and equity for everyone.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're witnessing a terrifying resurgence of far-right politics here in Australia, and our polity is failing to adequately address the seriousness of the issue. Right now, there are literal Neo-Nazis marching through the streets with the approval of the New South Wales police, and not many people in this place, except the Greens and some members of the crossbench and a few lone voices, seem to be batting an eyelid. There are many who attended the so-called March for Australia in August and who want to downplay the fact that that event platformed known Neo-Nazis, white nationalists and others who are actively working to tear down the fabric of our society—those very same people who stormed Camp Sovereignty, a peaceful First Nations meeting place, ambushing and assaulting people in the most disgusting display of white supremacy and racism; those very same people who are parading through our streets chanting slogans associated with the Hitler Youth.

Racism against migrants and people of colour in this country is not new, but it has been blatantly normalised and legitimised, and pretending that we don't see it only allows it to continue, especially while politicians and parts of the media gleefully fan the flames of hate and foment right-wing extremism. It's up to us to ensure that marginalised communities do not pay the price—that they are not persecuted, demonised or blamed for the problems of the day. It is up to all of us to remind people that it's billionaires and big corporations making life worse for all of us, not migrants, not people of colour and not First Nations people. It's billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, whose media empire exists to create division and dollars for him. It's billionaires like Gina Rinehart who want to pay workers less or Clive Palmer, who refuses to pay his workers at all. It's the same billionaires that delight in hosting right-wing politicians like Senator Hanson on holiday in Bali or partying with President Trump.

Cynical politicians like Senator Hanson are working hard to attract votes with unfounded racist attacks based on where people were born or the colour of their skin. But the Greens know that it is inequality and not immigration that people should be angry about. It is inequality that allows racism to flourish, but people of colour are not responsible for a system that keeps the rich rich and that screws ordinary people. We need everyone in this place and in our communities to face down the rise of the far right and turn that blame towards the big corporations and the billionaires who are actually responsible for making life harder for all of us and the politicians who refuse to fix the system so that people can have their everyday needs met.

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

The events of the last two days have established that even in this place, despite our trusted position of authority and responsibility, senators are afraid to deal with matters which may be contentious or even offend. Instead, the issues Senator Hanson and One Nation raised have met a response that can only be described as cowardice wrapped in fake outrage. One Nation will not be discouraged from addressing these issues that are threatening the welfare of everyday Australians. Radical Islam is a threat to the future of our beautiful country, and I will continue to defend Christianity and our Australian identity.

I want to address specific issues raised in this motion and related debate—firstly, the accusation that our opposition to the burqa would endanger schoolchildren in burqas. I must ask: what the hell is a schoolchild doing wearing a burqa? France solved that with a ban on burqas and face coverings in school. Australia must do so as well. As for talk of using a prop, the Greens' own Senator Hanson-Young brought a dead fish into the chamber and waved it around. That was not called a prop. Senator Thorpe brought a traditional Aboriginal weapon into the chamber, and that was not called a prop. Senator Faruqi demonstrated her fanatical support for Palestine with the frequent wearing of the keffiyeh; that was not deemed a prop. Senator Price wearing an Australian flag was a prop. Senator Hanson wearing a burqa was a prop. The definition of a prop appears to be anything Greens senators don't want to talk about.

This motion criticises everyday Australians marching proudly for their flag and their country, the same flag that flies above us right now. These marches are peaceful, joyous family events celebrating everything Australia used to be. No wonder the Greens hate it. The violence that occurred in the Melbourne march came from people who gatecrashed the event. Tarring unrelated groups with the same Nazi brush is brain-dead Greens propaganda. One Nation stands in defence of our flag, our community and our nation. Why don't you?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to start by congratulating the Senate on rejecting racism by censuring Senator Hanson and ejecting her from the floor. Her behaviour is an act of deep disrespect to the inherent dignity of every morally grounded Australian citizen. Today, we have a choice: we can allow the noise of this division to define us, or we can choose the stronger path—the path of active, unconditional kindness. Hatred is easy. It's a cheap political tactic designed by one-trick ponies to fracture society. Kindness, however, is the defining strength of a truly mature and diverse democracy.

There are many challenges that prevent authentic kindness, from racial stereotyping to societal norms that emphasise superficial qualities over empathy. Our collective response to this legislative attempt from this particular one-trick pony should continue to not be merely legalistic; it must be moral. We must counter the agenda of division with an unwavering commitment to inclusion to find solutions that help us solve tangible problems for all Australians. Pauline Hanson attending an anti-immigration march doesn't fix the housing crisis or help with protecting our environment and, most importantly, protecting each other. Our job is not to attack communities but to uplift them, to protect their rights and to celebrate the rich tapestry of Australian life.

I stand absolutely and unequivocally against Senator Pauline Hanson. In doing so, I stand beside the Muslim community, the migrant community and all Australians who simply ask for respect, dignity and the freedom to be who they are. Let us reject this rogue senator for now and ever more and embrace the kindness that is the true foundation of our national spirit.

Question agreed to.

Original question agreed to.