Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like a lot of people here, I have just heard the terrible news of a Muslim woman being pushed to the ground and having her arm broken in Australia today. These sorts of attacks have been spoken about in this House before. It is very distressing to see the increase in religious vilification and anti-Muslim attacks. That is why it is so important that everyone in this place makes sure that we communicate messages of love, compassion and diversity. That is why I was honoured to attend and to be asked to speak at the Walk Together march held in Brisbane at the weekend.

I would like to acknowledge the other speakers: Maroochy Barambah, who made a beautiful welcome to country; Imam Uzair Akbar, one of our local imams who made a wonderful speech; Amir Adil; Joyce Taylor; the daughter of a friend of mine, Jessica Rudd, who is also an ambassador of the organisation; and the Hon. Glenn Elmes, the state minister for multiculturalism. We all spoke with one voice at the Walk Together march. We all called for support for new arrivals to make sure that the theme of 'Common People, Common Dreams' was upheld—the dreams of security, of peace, of being welcomed, of opportunity, of hope. They are dreams that all people share. We owe it to all of our new arrivals to make them feel like they really are welcome to Australia.