David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australians hate double standards, and the double standard around the response to the attempted terrorist attack in Perth needs to be called out. A spotlight needs to be shone on the racism that First Nations people in Australia continue to face. And we need to stop overlooking the seriousness of what happened on 26 January. What we saw on 26 January was the most extreme real-world manifestation of the racism and hate First Nations people have long told us still exists in this country today.

It's revealed the tragic loss of humanity for one another that I think we've all felt slowly slipping through our country's hands—a loss driven by media companies, social media platforms and algorithms who have found hate, division and outrage more profitable than reason and compassion, more profitable than connecting with our fellow humans. And, of course, a loss driven by some politicians—politicians weaponising fear and seeking to boost their own political stocks from racism, hate and division, rather than appealing to people's better selves and showing leadership.

For many of us, the only thing more shocking than seeing someone throw a homemade bomb into a crowd of fellow Australians was the muted language and indifferent response from so many. It wasn't a bomb; it was 'a device'. It wasn't a terrorist act; it was 'a scare'. We cannot downplay the seriousness of what happened. This was a bomb designed to explode, designed to kill, thrown by an Australian at fellow Australians.

Now is the time for solidarity with the First Nations community. We cannot be selective with our outrage. So as a Senate we should be standing in solidarity with all First Nations people and encouraging all Australians now more than ever to be generous, not judgemental; to choose compassion, not cruelty. (Time expired)