Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I and other members across parliament spoke yesterday to condemn the hateful words of a senator—and his words must indeed be condemned. But they can't be condemned in isolation, because racism is on the rise in Australia. The bullhorn racism of the senator is taking place against a backdrop of dog-whistle racism and institutional inequality that extends well beyond him.

Last week, over 150 Melburnians came together at a public meeting to say no to the racialised law and order agenda that has been driven by cynical politicians and media outlets. I especially want to thank Matoc Achol, Flora Chol, Deng Maleek Deng and David DeWitt for speaking about the impacts on communities targeted by racism, along with Greens MP Ellen Sandell and the Greens candidate for Richmond, Kathleen Maltzahn. I would also like to thank the Somali Australian Melbourne resident who shared via a statement—read anonymously, because of the consequences faced by too many people of colour when speaking out—about her pain of having political figures playing politics with her life. Recently her nine-year-old son asked her: 'Hooyo'—which is 'mum' in Somali—'why do they always talk badly about Africans on the news?'

This meeting followed a rally led by young people in the South Sudanese community outside Channel 7, who stood up to say 'Enough is enough'. To the rally organisers, I express my support and solidarity today in parliament. Melbourne is a place where we stand together and where we know that we all belong. Our community will stand together against racism.