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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Wong. Minister, Muslims and migrants of colour are under attack across the country. Racism is rising, women are attacked on the streets and white supremacists are plotting violence on mosques. In yesterday's censure of Senator Hanson, you stated:

… I want every Australian child … to know and to believe that they belong here …

Yet your government refuses to take action to address the hate and racism that challenges their belonging. In your speech and motion, the words 'racism' and 'Islamophobia' were not even mentioned. The National Anti-Racism Framework, a plan to tackle systemic racism that exists in this country, has been gathering dust on government shelves for more than 450 days now. Minister, if you seriously care about eliminating racism, why have you not even responded to the National Anti-Racism Framework?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are many people in this chamber who've spent much of their lives standing up against hatred and racism. One of the things that I have believed—which, clearly, you do not—is that we do best if we do that together and if we stand in solidarity together, even if we don't agree with each other on many things. I remember, as a young Asian Australian—oh, this is not legitimate?

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

Senator Faruqi?

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

I have a point of order on relevance. My question was specifically about the National Anti-Racism Framework.

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

Order! To those on my right, I'm running the Senate. Senator Faruqi, you also had quite a significant and broad-ranging introduction to your question, and the minister is being precisely relevant.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remember, as a young Asian Australian—and I think I speak for many of my generation—how comforted we were by the bipartisan support for a non-discriminatory immigration system, including by members of the Liberal Party, and by bipartisan condemnation by many of Senator Hanson when she was in her first iteration.

I want to acknowledge Senators Scarr and McLachlan for their principled stance yesterday because it speaks to a history of bipartisan support for respect and equality that we have in this country. Senator, what I would say to you is that we may not agree on everything, but, surely, people can stand together against racism, which is what this Senate sought to do yesterday. It saddens me that, instead, you chose to engage as much in an attack on me personally as on Senator Hanson.

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

Senator Allman-Payne?

Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order on impugning the motivations of a senator.

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

Senator Allman-Payne, that is not a point of order. Minister Wong, did you wish to continue?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the motivations which were impugned in the question were mine. What I would say is that, all my life, including yesterday and in all the time in public life that I have had, I will stand against racism. On the National Anti-Racism Framework, that is a matter for the Attorney-General, and I will refer her—

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

You're standing up for racism!

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

Senator Faruqi, I'm not sure if that comment was directed to Senator Wong. If it was, I will ask you to withdraw it.

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

It was directed to the Labor government.

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

Senator Faruqi, in the interests of the chamber, I ask that you withdraw—

I haven't finished speaking, Senator Waters, so I would like respect from you until I finish speaking, then I will come to you. Please resume your seat. Senator Faruqi, in the interest of the harmony that I am trying to establish in this chamber, I will ask you again, in the interests of the chamber, to withdraw that statement. Senator Waters?

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

On the topic of withdrawals, Senator Sterle has been a frequent, nasty contributor, and his latest contribution against Senator Faruqi must be immediately withdrawn.

He's just repeated it as well.

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

Senator Sterle! Order! Just a moment, Senator Ayres. I am going to restore order first. Senator Sterle, silence. Senator Waters, you've made a point of order. I am going to address it, but I will not address it until the chamber is quiet. Senator Sterle?

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It would be my pleasure to withdraw for you, President.

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

On a point of order, I would seek that Senator Faruqi withdraw what she said. Prior to what she said, she said 'you'. There is no way possible to make an argument that that was a reflection upon the government. It was a snide, unserious personal attack and it ought to be withdrawn.

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

I withdraw. But this chamber has massive double standards. When a Labor member stands up and calls me a 'cretin' then you are standing up for racism.

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

Senator Faruqi, resume your seat. Senator Faruqi, I asked you to withdraw. You are well aware of the standards that I seek: when I ask senators to withdraw, they withdraw without comment. So I am asking you to withdraw.

Senator Faruqi, you are not in a debate with me. Senator Allman-Payne, resume your seat; I'm not going to come to you at the moment. Senator Faruqi, I would ask you to simply withdraw.

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

I have withdrawn.

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

I rise on a point of order. You have asked, and Senator Sterle has complied, to withdraw the first insult that he threw at Senator Faruqi. I now ask you to request that he withdraw the second insult. I won't repeat it but it started with an 'f'. I ask that you require him to withdraw the subsequent insult as well.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim. You are also aware of my standard and I never allow senators to repeat an offence. I did not hear any of the offences.

Senator Allman-Payne, I am speaking. Sit down, please. Senator Sterle, if you made a second—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I certainly did use a word beginning with 'f'. It wasn't the f-word but I will withdraw that, gratefully.

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

Senator Faruqi, a first supplementary?

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

On 21 March we will mark the International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in a climate in which racially marginalised communities are increasingly fearful for their safety because Labor and Liberals continue on their dog whistling and scapegoating. This date offers a perfect opportunity for Labor to put their money where their mouths are and fund the National Anti-Racism Framework in the upcoming budget. Minister, will you announce funding for the NARF by the end of this year?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Budget decisions will be made in the budget context, but this government stands against racism in all its forms.

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

Senator Faruqi, a second supplementary?

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

Last week, the Prime Minister was very quick and so wrong to call Grace Tame 'difficult', a sexist and patronising label for someone who has more courage than the whole Labor cabinet put together. But he can't bring himself to call One Nation the racist, Islamophobic and hateful party that they actually are. Will the Prime Minister and the Labor Party ever muster up the courage to call them out for what they are—racists?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I outlaid very clearly our views about Ms Hanson and what she stands for.