Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Anti-Palestinian Racism in Schools Register was set up following increasing incidents of teachers, students, school sports staff and parents being silenced and discriminated against in schools. The register is a simple and secure way to report incidents of anti-Palestinian racism and discrimination in schools. Some of the unfortunate incidents that have been reported to the register include students not being allowed to bring flags to school on Harmony Day and other special days, staff and students being asked to remove Palestinian colours on special days and students not being able to write about Gaza in their creative writing exercises.

Freedom of expression is important in Australia, and freedom of expression goes to the heart of what makes us a free and democratic society. It is such an important part of being Australian and enjoying the strong democratic system we are fortunate to have here, built on equality, dignity and respect. Incidents of anti-Palestinian racism and discrimination in our schools and, indeed, right across our communities are completely unacceptable, and I stand here against them.

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