Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 22 September, Jays, a local cafe owner, called on the PM to join the opposition leaders in his unequivocal condemnation of intolerance, racism and bigotry. Jays said that it was important that our political leaders stand up for grassroots communities and talk about being inclusive and diverse—that they speak about the Believe in Bendigo campaign. To this day, the Prime Minister has not listened to the calls of Jays and the Believe in Bendigo campaign. He has not come out and condemned what has gone on in Bendigo—outsiders coming in and disrupting our town, but, worse still, preaching hatred, preaching intolerance and preaching misinformation about Islam and dividing our community. The worst example of this was when these individuals from the United Patriots Front came into Bendigo and did a mock beheading in front of the City of Greater Bendigo chambers.

Yet this Prime Minister did not condemn those actions. This Prime Minister did not come to Bendigo and stand with the people of Bendigo and say: 'I believe in Bendigo.' It is time this Prime Minister and this government got serious, stopped talking about watering down the Racial Discrimination Act and stood with those in our community who are trying to rebuild and who are trying to stand together and say that they believe in Bendigo.