Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

At times like this the words we say in this place are not as important as the thoughts and prayers that we send. Today our thoughts are with the Australian Federal Police officer and the Victorian police officer who are both still in hospital. Our thoughts are with their families and their colleagues who have spent a sleepless night, anxiously wondering and watching over the ones they love and respect. Our thoughts are with the people of Endeavour Hills who have woken to see their local streets and shops on the national news and their peaceful community dragged to the centre of a national story. Our thoughts are with the family of a young man who may be asking themselves more questions than there are answers.

The events of last night remind us of the bravery and the quality of all who serve in our police and security agencies. They underscore the unpredictable dangers of the work they do in keeping our community safe. Next Monday, 29 September, is National Police Remembrance Day. We will commemorate all those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and salute the courage of all those who wear a police uniform. Earlier this morning Chief Commissioner Ken Lay told me that these officers who were injured are doing as well as can be expected. Today I join with the Acting Prime Minister to wish these two brave people are speedy recovery.

Madam Speaker, last night the young man who died, Numan Haider, had a family too. In their grief they will be asking themselves, 'How did it come to this?' What drove the boy they loved to this desperate end? As difficult as it may be, I suspect many Australians will be asking themselves this same question. We must ask ourselves why a very small number of people raised in Australia would be attracted to the cause of ISIL and the like. The answer is not clear. Perhaps part of the answer is this: in a complicated and uncertain world, fundamentalist extremism gives the illusion of certainty and simplicity. This is the poison of sectarianism and extremism. It offers a sense of power to people who may feel powerless, an outlet for the bottled-up rage and hatred of the isolated or the unwell, but this is only ever a harmful mirage. There is no glory in murder, no honour in crime and no power in death.

We have a responsibility to send a clear message to those drawn to this conflict: whatever problems you may perceive that you have, violence is never the solution. Whatever you think is wrong with the world, extremism and fanaticism will never make it right.

We are a country of 23 million individual souls, but today we are one people. We are a nation of over 200 languages, but today we speak with one voice. We are a nation of many faiths, but today we rededicate ourselves to one belief—the belief that everyone is equal and everyone is welcome. Since mass postwar migration, Australia has gained and grown by including people of every culture and nation. We cannot, we must not and we will not allow a tiny minority to divide our generous, inclusive society. On behalf of our wounded police officers, we cannot allow this country to become polarised. Let us all vow to meet this moment with understanding and tolerance, not division and violence, with compassion and comprehension, not prejudice and exclusion.

We live in a challenging time. We have lived in challenging times before and we shall face challenging times in the future. We understand in this parliament that what Australia needs now is wisdom and understanding to guide us sensibly and safely through the days ahead.

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