John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like so many others, I rise in this chamber to speak in support of the motion in relation to the late Jo Cox MP. What we saw on the event of her murder was an absolute tragedy—certainly for her community, certainly for her country, certainly for democracy around this world and of course, most particularly and above all else, for her family—because Jo Cox was going about the role of an elected official, a local MP, who was quite passionate about the causes and the electorate in which she was involved. We understand from the history that so many of us around the world have read about Jo Cox since her untimely death that she was committed to Oxfam, and she was committed to the resettlement of Syrian refugees, amongst others, into her country. We certainly understand that, whilst she was a relatively short-term member for her electorate, she was quite popular and quite engaged in her community.

I note that, when we look at the aspects around this terrible tragedy, Jo was killed because of who she was and because of what she stood for. It is important that we all understand this because otherwise we will learn nothing. Words matter. If you engage in the politics of fear, hate and division, if you talk about the breaking points of a society, you cannot expect that there will be no consequences. In this case, we saw that politics of fear, hate and division come to this tragic end in the case of Jo Cox. To think that she was so viciously attacked in the streets of her community resonates with anyone who supports democratic processes around this world and certainly for the few of us who have the great honour of representing our communities here in this federal parliament in Australia. Whilst we must debate issues, whilst we must embrace all opinions on important societal issues, it is important that we recognise that the politics of fear, hate, division and violence, as we saw in this case, have no place in our society—particularly in a democratic society.

This year has been particularly divisive, and it is up to every one of us in public life to do all that we can to heal the wounds within our communities around the world so that we can reunite and build for the future. I note that Labour MP Tracy Brabin, who was elected to replace Jo, said in her maiden speech that her constituency of Batley and Spen would not be defined by the one person who took her from us but by the many who give. What happened was not only an attack on a woman, a family and a community but, as I have also reflected here today, an assault on the principles and basis of our democracy.

Each member of parliament around the world in democratic countries can reflect on their own engagement with their own communities, irrespective of their political attitudes. I know that in my home community of Groom, in Queensland, we have recently welcomed, as part of the federal government's resettlement program, a number of Syrian families into our community. I was honoured and proud to join with other community leaders just recently in an official welcome to them by the whole community, held at St Patrick's Cathedral but supported by all walks of life in our community and certainly all faith traditions.

I thought of Jo Cox on that day. I thought: there she was, carrying out her role as a local member. There she was, pursuing her passion for her community and not only her community but those from elsewhere, such as the Syrians that she was so keen to support. Again, regardless of political orientation or attitudes, all of us need to guard against extreme views and those few occasions where those views can play out so violently.

So today—along, I am sure, with all members of the Australian parliament and of parliaments around the world in democratic countries—we must join together and learn from the message of Jo Cox and what she means to all of us. Her legacy will live on for all of us in democratic countries. I note that her replacement quoted from Jo Cox's own maiden speech when she said:

… we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.

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