Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This Harmony Day I have had the privilege of receiving at Parliament House three guests from Amity College, Prestons, in my electorate. It was a pleasure to show this place to these two distinguished students, Mariam and Adna, with their teacher, Ms Makiz Ansari. I have spoken in this place before about the great work that Amity College does in my community and their achievements. The meaning of the name of the school is 'friendship, peaceful harmony and mutual understanding', which are the core values of the school. Originally established by members of the Turkish community who immigrated to the southwest, it now has over 1,700 students from more than 40 nationalities.

It is the embodiment of the diversity of communities in Greater Western Sydney, in Werriwa, and, indeed, this country and its ongoing commitment to fairness and, importantly, the guarantee of respect and dignity for all. The message of Harmony Day this year is 'everyone belongs'. This is embodied in the work of this school, its students, its staff and its place in my community.

That is why it seems all the more perverse that the    government is again discussing weakening the discrimination laws that protect the fundamental right to dignity and respect, irrespective of creed and culture. This is a dangerous proposal, and the government's obsession with this issue is evidence of the fundamental lack of leadership that we continue to see day in and day out.