Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I speak in support of the suspension of standing orders. Nothing in this debate that comes from the conservative side of the chamber surprises me anymore. They have decided to commit themselves to a position on issues of humanitarianism and conscience that commits them to a very dark path indeed—but, on this side of the chamber, the Labor Party!

As somebody who used to consider themselves a Labor supporter, who comes from a proudly Labor family that in the UK would vote nothing but Labour, I say to the Labor Party: how disappointing moments like this are that we have fallen so far, that both sides of politics are now so committed to this blood pact on refugees, to this abdication of humanitarian leadership from a nation that played such a leading role in the creation of the Refugee Convention in 1951, that you cannot even bring yourselves to vote for a motion condemning a demagogue, a Neo-Fascist such as Donald Trump. You can't bring yourself to condemn the man for separating 2,700 children from their families because you dare not put your foot across the line; you dare not come close to advocating the humanitarian response that I know some of you want to support and that I goddamn well know that many of your supporters in WA, from Rockingham to Fremantle and from Denmark to Kalgoorlie, want you to support. I've done polling booths with them. I've spoken with them. I've heard the note of disappointment in their voices as they talk to me about their futile efforts to get your party to come back on board with humanity. They are so tired of fighting this issue and fighting the party.

At moments like this I am not surprised. We are seeing a nation we consider to be one of our foremost global allies acting in a way that is nothing less than repugnant, implementing policies which are ripping families apart—and where did he get the idea? Where did this ignorant buffoon get the idea? Australia. Australia, under the Labor Party. Shame! Shame on you all!