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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Videos posted of the incident involving the Prime Minister at Lakemba Mosque last Friday show, by my count, 20 people in the security team, including uniformed officers from New South Wales Police who took up a position inside. One Nation leader Senator Hanson remarked only three weeks ago that Lakemba wasn't safe for everyday Australians. If the Prime Minister organised a 20-person security detail in advance to provide security for the visit, doesn't that prove the Prime Minister believed Lakemba Mosque was not a safe place for him to visit?

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

You should be ashamed.

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

Before I call the minister, I'm going to remind everyone, particularly those on my right, once again that Senator Roberts has the right to ask his question in silence.

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

It is telling that the two questions I get on Lakemba are from the Greens and One Nation. Perhaps the Greens political party could reflect on their polarisation of this debate.

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

You must think you're so clever.

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

No, not particularly, but I think there is ethics in politics, Senator Faruqi. Senator Roberts, I'm sorry. I disagree with most of what is included in your question, and I again go back to the answer I gave to Senator Faruqi recently. There are Australians who are rightly distressed by the conflict in Gaza, the loss of life and what we have seen. That is a legitimate position for people to hold. But the way to deal with differences of views—and there are differences of views on this—is not to disengage, but nor is it to seek to turn up the temperature. And nor is it to try and make people angry, which is what we see from the corner here of the Greens. I would say to you, Senator, it is a good thing for the Prime Minister of the country to go to a mosque and to engage with Australian Muslims. That is a good thing. That is about our social cohesion. That is about recognising that we have differences, different faiths, in a pluralistic society and that we can respect and celebrate all faiths. What I say to you is we should, as politicians, work to inculcate a society, work to protect a society where we can have differences of views and differences of opinion without anger and without division. And that is what we will work for.

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

Senator Roberts, first supplementary?

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

My question was about whether or not the Prime Minister felt safe. On 4 March, the Albanese government listed Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prohibited hate organisation. Social media has already identified at least one of those displaying violent behaviour to be a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, based on his social media posts. Minister, will your government arrest anyone associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir who acted violently towards the Prime Minister and towards other Muslims last Friday?

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

I have two points, Senator Roberts. The first is there is a separation of powers, and politicians don't arrest people. The second point, the more important one, is you voted against the legislation under which Hizb ut-Tahrir was prescribed. This is so typical of One Nation! It is all complaints, but, when there is a solution, you stand in the way of it. We proudly put forward legislation which increased the capacity of governments to deal with groups that were engaging in hatred. You voted against that, and now you complain about it.

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

Senator Roberts, second supplementary?

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

The Prime Minister has never needed a 20-person security detail to attend a Christian church in his time as Prime Minister, nor to attend a meeting of everyday Australians. Is it true, Minister, that social cohesion in the hands of the Albanese government simply means surrendering to radical Islam?

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

I do hope that members of the Liberal Party listened to that question and recognised that the result in South Australia, the success of that party over there, is fuelled by your preferences. You are delivering them votes and seats in South Australia. I hope you think about that. I hope you think about that. I hope you think about that. I hope you think about the fact that you are fuelling support for the party that is now cannibalising you. You are fuelling their support.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! I would ask all senators to please refrain from (1) interjecting, and (2) pointing across the chamber.

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

You use the phrase 'everyday Australians'. Well, everyday Australians come from all walks of life, all faiths, all backgrounds. That's what we believe. Everyday Australians come as Hindus, as Sikhs, as Muslims, as Christians, as members of the Jewish community. They are all everyday Australians. (Time expired)

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

I will just advise the Senate that Senator Babet has given his question to Senator Whitten.