Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to oppose the suspension of standing orders. Labor believes that nobody should be discriminated against because of who they are or whom they love. It was the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, who first called for action to address discrimination against LGBTI schoolchildren when the religious freedom report was leaked several weeks ago. Labor's sole focus since then has been to work constructively to pass a bill to remove unjust discrimination against LGBTI schoolchildren and staff. It is disappointing that the Morrison government broke its promise to remove discrimination against LGBTI school students in the last parliamentary sitting fortnight, but it is equally disappointing that the Greens political party is now trying to use this important issue as ammunition for a cheap political stunt designed to rescue its faltering election campaign in Victoria. That is why this suspension must be opposed.

I have an important message for the Greens and their leader, Senator Richard Di Natale: if you want to rescue your faltering Victorian election campaign, then you need to start with your shocking candidates. Just today, the Herald Sun reported that Greens candidate for Footscray, Angus McAlpine, who goes by the pseudonym 'FatGut', is guilty of making vile homophobic and violently sexist slurs, and he even trivialised sexual assault. This Greens candidate has also reportedly joked about stealing a police car, ramraiding stores and being arrested for being drunk and disorderly. The Greens have refused to disendorse him. By allowing Angus McAlpine to continue to stand under the Greens banner, the Greens and their leader, Senator Di Natale, are telling voters in Victoria that they endorse his vile homophobic and violently sexist statements. Former Greens leader Bob Brown, may he rest in peace, would never tolerate sexism and homophobia—