Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

We know that the role of the Senate is to inquire on issues that are of international significance, national significance and local significance. We've read the terms of reference, and they are broad enough for us to be confident that this inquiry could be used for a constructive purpose. But, given the nature of the language in these terms of reference, and given some of the voices in this place who have clearly expressed negative sentiment towards immigrants and who clearly do not support multiculturalism, we are also concerned that this committee inquiry has the potential to be used for purposes that we don't support. We are prepared to accept that it is our role to inquire into issues like this, and we'll give the benefit of the doubt to Senators Carr and Stoker, who have moved this. But we will be watching very closely that this doesn't become a vehicle for people who have, quite frankly, racist and bigoted views.