Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

While Senator Bernardi resigned as the opposition leader's parliamentary secretary yesterday over other outrageous comments, he still has not been held to account by Mr Abbott for attacking multiculturalism and undermining the bipartisan character of this important policy. This bipartisan character was expressed, for example, in February 2011 by Senator Brandis when he said:

… everyone who matters in the Liberal party has the same view about multiculturalism in Australia, and that is we strongly support it.

Given this, Mr Abbott needs to urgently clarify whether his party supports the divisive inflammatory and anti-multicultural stance peddled by Senator Bernardi or the bipartisan approach offered by Senator Brandis and many others in the Liberal Party. The opportunity exists for Mr Abbott to rebuke Senator Bernardi specifically on these issues— (Time expired)