Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to echo the sentiments of my friend the member for Bruce, who spoke before me. Today marks two years since the evil attack on people in worship, practising their religion, at a Christchurch mosque. Fifty-one of our New Zealand neighbours were slain that day while attending Friday prayers, at the hands, shamefully, of an Australian—a fact that brought this horrific and evil attack, which hurt our very, very dear friends, so close to home. In remembering this event, and given it was committed by one of our own, we in this House must recommit to tackling extremism wherever it is found.

Just two days after those events two years ago, I joined many locals in coming together at the Virgin Mary Mosque in Hoppers Crossing. Many there that day had probably never been to a mosque and never considered it, but that day was about our community coming together to support one another in the shadow of the tragic and evil event. Yesterday, we also gathered at our wonderful Virgin Mary Mosque—in better circumstances, I must say—to celebrate the wonderful contribution that our Muslim community makes to the city of Wyndham. I want to thank Sheikh Abdullah, the committee and the community for their warm welcome yesterday, for the prayers they offer for all of Australia and for the contributions they make to our great community.