Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are moments in this place that transcend the cut and thrust of political discourse. This week, we had two of those moments, thanks to the valedictory speeches of the members for Gorton and Barton. They've lived incredible lives of service, and we have all benefited. They have also shown us that you can serve in this place with compassion and grace. Unfortunately, this parliamentary fortnight, we've also seen the very worst of our political discourse when the debate in this place descended into divisive political opportunism.

We have seen this kind of politics in Australia before, and we are seeing it around the world. Smearing and labelling an entire community is a sad but all-too-familiar political playbook. But politics doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't have to be a gladiatorial sport where we punch down on others. The Leader of the Opposition may land some political blows when he is in this place, using those tactics, but the people who really feel the blows are those out in our communities. The members for Barton and Gorton have shown what can be achieved when we show each other humanity instead of intolerance and prejudice. It's their example that I will follow.