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

by leave—Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to allow a motion relating to the Perth Boorloo bombing attack, to be moved immediately and determined without amendment.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That the motion be determined without amendment and that the question be put after 30 minutes of debate, five minutes per speaker.

Question agreed to.

I move the motion as circulated and inform the Senate that this motion is also being sponsored by Senators McCarthy, Stewart and Cox:

That the Senate—

(a) condemns the attempted bombing on 26 January 2026 in Boorloo (Perth) that targeted First Peoples and their supporters;

(b) notes that the Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team, consisting of the Western Australia Police Force, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, is investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act;

(c) acknowledges the serious harm this has caused and expresses its solidarity with all those impacted by this event;

(d) notes that an attack against First Nations people is an attack against all Australians;

(e) notes that for many First Nations people, 26 January is a day of mourning and that an attack on this day, at an Invasion Day rally, represents a serious escalation of racial violence against First Peoples;

(f) condemns all acts of violence and racism against First Peoples, and stands in solidarity with First Peoples against racism and hate directed at them;

(g) affirms that this Parliament's recent condemnation of racially motivated hatred unambiguously includes racism directed at First Peoples;

(h) notes that the federal government has a duty to equally protect all people in this country from racism, discrimination, hate speech and the threat of racially motivated violence;

(i) acknowledges that First Peoples in Australia continue to face entrenched racism, racially-motivated hate and threats of violence, and that any instance of this is unacceptable and must be addressed; and

(j) calls for governments to continue to take urgent action to address racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence against First Peoples.

On 26 January families, elders and children gathered in Boorloo Perth on Whadjuk Noongar boodjar. They came peacefully in remembrance to grieve and to heal on a day of mourning for First Peoples. During the smoking ceremony, a man with hate in his heart and the intention to kill our people took his position on a walkway above the crowd. He was armed with a homemade fragmentation bomb packed with ball bearings, screws and explosive liquid. He threw it into the crowd below, where it landed among our elders and children.

The bomb smouldered, smoke rising from its fuse mixing with the smoke of ceremony. Our healing smoke, carrying the memory and strength of our ancestors, was tainted by the poisoned plume of racism and hate. The bomb thankfully did not detonate. It could have caused many deaths. Our elders say it was the protection of our ancestors present through ceremony, holding our people when the worst was intended. Let us be absolutely clear: this should be treated as an act of terror. It was a deliberate act of hate directly targeting First Peoples on our day of mourning.

But that was just the beginning of the harm. In the days that followed, as those who were there and First Peoples across this country came to understand what had nearly occurred, the trauma deepened. The trauma was met with something familiar—silence, minimisation and indifference, another form of violence. The attempted bombing was an act of horrific, overt hate and racism. What followed was the quieter, insidious thrum of the entrenched, systemic racism that shapes this country. Decisions were made in newsrooms, in ministerial offices and in the daily rhythms of power about whether this was urgent, whether it mattered and whether our lives mattered. There was no emergency press conference from the Prime Minister, no proactive statement of condemnation, no solidarity offered to First Peoples left reeling from this attempted act of mass violence. The Prime Minister's only comments came when he was questioned at an unrelated press conference. Since then, the Prime Minister has held multiple press conferences, and not once has this attack been raised by journalists. They have not asked, pressed or pursued. The coalition and others who were so very vocal in response to the Bondi attack have been notably absent. The court has suppressed the attacker's identity, accepting arguments about his safety in prison because so many of our people are incarcerated. Once again, First Peoples are framed as a threat rather than recognised as the victims.

All this silence matters, and it is loud. It sends a message that our lives are not valued, that our safety is not taken seriously. So today I ask this place and everyone listening to pause and reflect and to ask yourselves, honestly: why was this not seen as deserving national attention? This motion is about bringing this country together. It's about recognition and responsibility. It is about condemning hate and racism consistently, no matter who the victim is or what colour their skin is. It asks the parliament to say clearly to First Peoples: 'We hear you. We believe you. We recognise that the racism and hatred directed at you are real and rising.' It calls on this parliament to commit to urgent action to address racism, hate and violence against First Peoples.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to condemn the sickening attack on an Invasion Day rally in Perth last week. On 26 January, First Nations families and non-Indigenous supporters gathered at Forrest Place in peaceful protest, exercising their democratic right to make their voices heard. First Nations people were leading 2½ thousand Australians of all walks of life, waving the Aboriginal flag and national flag and holding banners about serious issues facing First Nations Australians—homelessness, incarceration, health outcomes.

Many of us have seen the released footage of what happened next. As a Noongar elder was addressing the crowd, a man threw an object from a nearby balcony. From police descriptions, it's a miracle that footage wasn't very different. Police have confirmed that the item thrown was an improvised explosive device—metal ball bearings and screws wrapped around an explosive liquid compound of chemicals. We've heard from experts in the media in recent days about the device's destructive potential. Professor Mark Briskey, a counterterrorism expert from Murdoch University, has worked on investigations alongside the AFP and FBI. He described the similarity between this device and others used by terrorists to kill in other countries. It's only by chance that the device didn't detonate and cause mass casualties. Eyewitnesses have said the device landed in an area reserved for the most vulnerable—people in wheelchairs, babies in prams. We narrowly avoided a catastrophic disaster. The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team is investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act. While a man has been charged over the incident and remains in custody, this remains an ongoing investigation, and we must call this attack out for what it is.

What we saw in Perth last Monday was an attempted bombing of a peaceful First Nations rally led by First Nations Australians and their allies. This was an attack on the social cohesion of the Australian community. It was an attack on all Australians. When our social cohesion is attacked, all of us in this chamber—the government, the opposition and the crossbench—must apply consistent focus and condemnation. Leaders' words carry meaning, and our government will not be silent. The Albanese government condemns this sickening and abhorrent incident. An attack on First Nations Australians is an attack on all Australians, and I am incredibly proud of the Prime Minister for standing up and saying what he said in regard to this incident.

First Nations Australians, like all Australians, must be able to gather peacefully without fearing for our safety. There is no place for hate, intimidation or racism of any form in Australia, and we will continue to take action. Last month, we legislated to target acts of hatred designed to disrupt our social cohesion. That legislation better protects Australians of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, including First Nations Australians, from hateful attacks. As Minister for Indigenous Australians and as a Yanyuwa Garrwa woman, I understand the importance of our work to eradicate violent hate all too well. First Nations Australians have come to understand that, where hateful narratives spread, violence does follow and generations will be devastated.

I'm hearing from First Nations people in Western Australia and around the country, and they are deeply concerned. So many are scared—many are despairing—but First Nations Australians will not be cowed, by this violence, from exercising their rights or from being proud of who they are. We won't stop in our efforts to protect social cohesion in Australia. On behalf of the government, I sincerely extend my condolences to those shaken by these events; to the many people I've spoken to in regard—not just here in the Senate chamber; my colleagues Senator Cox and Senator Lines; and all of those families, Noongar families and allies who were protesting that day. Condolences to you, and we reach out to you to support you. We will not stop in our efforts to ensure that First Nations Australians and all Australians live in safety.

Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me begin by clearly and unambiguously stating that the Liberal Party condemns the attempted bombing on 26 January in Perth. Several of my colleagues and I condemned that immediately in the media after the improvised explosive device was hurled at those people who had gathered. It is appalling, and it's just luck that this wasn't much worse. Regardless, this event has caused so much pain and so much hurt, and it is abhorrent. There is of course no place for violence of this kind in Australia—not ever. We note the ongoing investigation by the Western Australia Police Force, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. We acknowledge the serious harm caused, and we express our solidarity with all those who were affected.

We affirm this: this is an attack against Indigenous Australians. That's the appropriate term to use. It is an attack also against all Australians, and we must condemn it. Those propositions are not controversial. They should unite this chamber. Violence directed at people because of who they are is simply and categorically unacceptable. It must be condemned plainly, decisively and without qualification.

Where the Liberal Party parts ways with this motion is its decision to go beyond that clear and necessary condemnation and instead prosecute arguments about Australia Day. This is not what this motion needs to be, and it is not what this motion requires. This attack is already being investigated as a potential terrorist attack. That is an investigation to be left to WA police, the AFP and ASIO. Those responsible should face the full force of the law through our police, our security agencies and our courts. That is the proper course. It is not appropriate to use an incident that remains under active investigation to retaliate, to reignite debates about 26 January or to ascribe broader political meaning before the facts are established.

We condemn the attack. We stand against racism and violence. This motion is not a vehicle for prosecuting Australia Day and that debate. This is why we will ask that paragraphs (e) and (i) be put separately. Those provisions are politicising a vile attack that is still under active investigation. Australia Day is not the issue here. Any violence against Australians based on what they believe in is unacceptable, and this motion rightly condemns it. The Liberal Party stands with all those who have been affected, Indigenous or otherwise, and we affirm this parliament's recent condemnation of racially motivated hatred, acknowledging that this unambiguously includes racism directed at Indigenous Australians. I also move the amendment as circulated in my name. The amendment omits 'First Peoples' from paragraph (j) and replaces it with 'all Australians'. This is because violence and intimidation impact all Australians, not just Indigenous Australians.

All people must be free to protest lawfully and peacefully without fear of harm, regardless of their views. No cause will ever be advanced by threatening or harming others. Australians can disagree respectfully, but violence will only deepen division. It is unacceptable. Everyone in this place should be working to bring people together, not to inflame tensions or excuse bad behaviour. The federal government has a duty to equally protect all people in this country from racism, discrimination, hate speech and the threat of racially motivated violence. The government must continue to take urgent action to address racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence in all its forms whenever it appears and wherever it appears. That is why the Liberal Party cannot support the singling out of Indigenous Australians in paragraph (j).

This act of violence is about behaviour, not politics. Violence is wrong, no matter who commits it, when it is committed or why it is committed. Our focus must remain on safety, accountability and peaceful civic engagement. As I said previously, an attack on Indigenous Australians is an attack on all Australians. Australia is better than what we saw in Perth on 26 January. Disagreement must never turn into intimidation and violence. I seek leave to move the amendment as circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

I move:

Amend paragraph (j) as follows:

(j) calls for governments to continue to take urgent action to address racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence against all Australians.

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

I rise on behalf of the Greens in strong support of the motion condemning the attempted racist terrorist attack on First Nations people and their supporters in Boorloo Perth on Invasion Day. A man threw a homemade bomb into a crowd of First Nations people and allies at the Invasion Day rally, with the intent to hurt and kill people—elders, children, families. It was a racist attack. It was an attempted terrorist attack. The only reason people avoided physical injury was that the device failed to detonate, but this attack and the terrible silence that has followed has inflicted deep trauma on First Nations people; on others at the rally in support, including our Greens senator Jordon Steele-John and his staff; and on all Australians.

The silence from media and conservatives, who were so loudly outraged about antisemitic violence for months, has been deafening. Despite the deliberate targeting of the First Nations community, it took three days for authorities to decide to investigate the attack as a potential act of terrorism. I'm glad they are now investigating, but suppressing the identity of the attacker—and the delay—speaks volumes. It's a familiar pattern. When Neo-Nazis violently attacked Camp Sovereignty in Naarm in August last year, hospitalising community members and desecrating the Aboriginal flag, the police did not investigate the attack as a hate crime.

We currently have the highest rate of Aboriginal deaths in custody in over 40 years. Overpolicing is killing First Nations people, but violence towards First Nations people is simply ignored. The attacks in Naarm and Boorloo are part of an escalation of violence against First Nations people, who are already facing entrenched racism and systemic abuse. The responses to the attacks highlight a brutal truth: not all acts of hate are treated equally in this country.

What message does this send to First Nations people? The constant minimisation of the violence, dispossession and inequality that they have faced since colonisation is a national shame. A bomb was thrown into a crowd of people on Invasion Day. There could be no more blatant attack, yet it barely caused a ripple in the media. The Western Australian opposition leader is yet to even comment on the attack.

We all stood in this place just weeks ago and promised to reduce hate; that means all hate. Any act of racially motivated violence and discrimination must be clearly condemned and action taken against perpetrators. The fact that no-one was physically injured in this attack is a blessing, but it should not take away from the seriousness of what has occurred. I'd like to share my support and gratitude to the event organisers and the volunteers in Boorloo who worked to keep those gathered safe amidst the confusion and fear that rippled through the crowd at Forrest Place last Monday. This event, which should have been a peaceful gathering, has been retraumatising for many First Nations people, and I send my condolences and solidarity to all those who are feeling the impacts of this attack.

We have seen the violence that develops from racial vilification, we have seen the risks of ignoring threats, and we have seen that weak or permissive responses create the environment for radicalisation. What we need to see is genuine action. We must not let conservative politicians divide us with Trump-style rhetoric inciting hate against First Nations people, migrants or other marginalised groups. This parliament must equally protect all people in Australia from racism, discrimination, hate speech and violence. We must respond with equal conviction to all acts of racially motivated violence. We must tackle the conditions that enable fear to turn to hate: cost-of-living and housing pressures, racist dog whistling from the media, and algorithms and online echo chambers fanning the flames.

An attack against First Nations people is an attack against all Australians. We must continue to stand with First Nations communities calling for truth, treaty and justice, and we must fully fund and implement the National Anti-Racism Framework to create a genuinely cohesive, inclusive and antiracist society.

Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to echo the words of Senator Lidia Thorpe and all my other colleagues standing in support of this motion. Thank you, Senator Thorpe, for having the courage that we didn't see from the government as immediately as we have seen in other situations. On 26 January this device was thrown, and there is still debate over whether it was a terrorist attack or not, whether it was politically motivated or not. The T word was not being used. It begs the question: did we need to have casualties for this to have an immediate reaction from the government and from authorities in general?

This man, a 31-year-old man from the Perth suburb of Warwick, was charged the next day. As he faced court on 27 January, the court put in place a suppression order to conceal the man's identity after his defence lawyer raised safety concerns. If this man had been a man of colour, the reaction would have been very different, and we know it. That's the elephant in the room that we want to address. If this man had been a person of colour, his face would have been plastered on the front page of the West Australian. The Daily Mail would have been frothing over speculations, and Sky News would have been making all sorts of accusations and sowing seeds of division into our already fractured society. That's not what we need right now. Only a few weeks ago we came here to debate hate speech laws, but it seems the outrage is very selective. It only matters when it's a particular perpetrator or if a particular segment of our society are the victims.

On Friday I was walking down the streets from my office to the post office, and an Indigenous man came up to me and said: 'I know who you are. Can you just send a message to parliament when you go back that we feel very invisible. Our First Nations people feel invisible because our pain is neglected, our pain is not considered as important as every other Australian's pain and suffering. Our path to reconciliation seems to be very symbolic. It's just thrown around as confetti, but nobody really pays attention to it.' That was just one of the many concerns that people have raised either by writing to me or by speaking to me on the streets.

The news reports are calling this man a lone wolf. His identity is concealed. 'Nothing to see here; let's move on, people. The bomb didn't detonate and nobody died, so get over it,' is the sentiment we are getting. But the amount of trauma that this inflicted on the people who were there at the Invasion Day rally is catastrophic. People are scared, and rightfully so.

Just a week before 26 January, I received a letter, and many other colleagues may have received it too. I will read parts of the letter because it's very concerning. If this is the mentality that certain people have, it's no wonder that that incident, the terrorist attack at Boorloo, took place. It starts with:

Palestinians, Lebanese, Arabs, Muslims, Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders … socialists

…   …   …

Anyone from these groups who protests on 'Australia Day' should be beaten to death in the street on January 26th to show that we will no longer take their shit.

In the lead up to the 26th, our great National Day of celebrating everything Aussie, you should purchase spray paint and go out and spray walls in your local shopping centre with the 'V' symbol to let the bastards know that we are around, we will be watching them and we will kill them if we get the opportunity. Be brave.

But don't be stupid. Wear a hoodie because you will be caught on camera and the cops are so traitorous that they will arrest you while letting Arabs walk all over our 'sacred sites'—

(Time expired)

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year on 26 January thousands of people gathered peacefully in the centre of Perth, on Whadjuk Nyoongar boodjar, to mark a day that carries profound significance for First Peoples. Australia Day means different things to different people. For all, it should be a day where people can come together and express their views peacefully. Instead, those gathered were placed in danger.

I want to be very clear about the seriousness of what occurred. Throwing an explosive device into a crowd of approximately 2,000 people is not symbolic, it is not abstract and it is not a minor incident. It is an act that could have killed people. We came incredibly close to a devastating tragedy. I want to acknowledge the swift actions of police, who acted quickly and calmly to prevent harm, but I also want to speak plainly about the impact this incident has had, particularly on First Nations communities. I know how deeply this has shaken our people and, in particular, my community. I have heard from parents frightened for their children; from elders who are angry, who are hurt and who are exhausted; and from young people questioning whether it's safe to gather, to protest, or even to be visible. That fear is real and that anger is justified, and it deserves to be acknowledged. This happened on a day that already carries intergenerational trauma for First Nations people. To have a homemade explosive thrown into a crowd of people gathering peacefully adds another layer to an already loaded day. It sends a message that even when we come together peacefully, our safety can be taken for granted.

But now the matter is before the courts. Charges have been laid, and WA police are working with the AFP and ASIO to investigate whether this is an act of terrorism. I want to put on the record that, as a former police officer, I know the importance of allowing the legal process to run its course, but acknowledging that the process doesn't diminish the harm the attempted attack has caused to my community and to the many, many allies who were there on that day. 'Terror' is not just a legal definition; terror is about the impact and it is about the fear. It is about people wondering whether they will make it home peacefully after expressing their views. That is what people experienced in Perth, in Boorloo, my home. That impact is still being felt, not just in Western Australia but by First Nations people and their communities across this country.

We must also be honest about the fact that this didn't happen in a vacuum. It came when we'd just recently seen horrific violence inflicted on Australians, and we returned to this place to deal with that matter. This is why the Albanese Labor government is acting to strengthen social cohesion: acting on hate crimes, working with states and territories to keep our communities safe, and backing law enforcement to stop violence before it happens.

Let me be clear: we will not allow this incident to fracture our communities further. The strong response to violence and intimidation is solidarity. To our community, our elders, our children, our aunties and our uncles and everyone who was present at Forrest Place on 26 January: You are not alone. You are valued. You deserve safety, dignity and peace. Our capacity for love, community and collective care is stronger than hate; it always has been and always will be.

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

I will put the amendment as moved by Senator Liddle, which has been circulated in the chamber. Senator Canavan?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order. The Nationals would also like to vote separately on (j). I didn't get an opportunity to speak in the debate, but I just wanted to indicate that.

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

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

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

The opposition have indicated they wish to separate out (e) and (i). The question is that paragraphs (e) and (i) of Senator Thorpe's motion be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Senator Cash has indicated that we record their opposition.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The National Party would like (j) put separately.

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

Same, please—we want (e) and (i) put separately.

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

We've just done (e) and (i).

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

by leave—We want to record our opposition.

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

Thank you, Senator Roberts. The question is that paragraph (j) be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Could we have the National Party's opposition to (j) recorded, and (e) and (i) as well.

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

Yes. I'm assuming, Senator Roberts, you would like your opposition to (j) to be recorded?

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

by leave—Yes.

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

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

Question agreed to.