Craig Laundy (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Often we as members use these valuable speaking opportunities to highlight the good work of many people within our community. Sadly, today, I rise to condemn the actions of a few. Newspaper reports last week indicated that a race-hate flyer had been distributed into areas of Sydney's North Shore and Inner West. This flyer sought to target our Australian-Chinese community. Sadly, my office has also recently received anonymous correspondence that seeks to promote intolerance and fear. I condemn these actions, of albeit a tiny minority, in the strongest possible terms.

Racism and xenophobia have no place in Australian society. Australia is a tolerant and inclusive country, and none of us should ever allow fear of any kind to diminish that. Our nation has been built on the back of migration and we are celebrated around the world as a nation that gives a fair go to all our citizens. And, of course, our local Australian-Chinese community has made a long-standing, invaluable and incredible contribution to our nation.

To that end, I was delighted to recently welcome the Prime Minister and the Minister for Small Business to my electorate to meet nearly 200 members of my Australian-Chinese business community to talk about the budget and celebrate the entrepreneurial enterprise that these business owners demonstrate. I encourage all Australians to stand up against fear and intolerance and say 'No' to racism.