Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the Australian Iranian diaspora. I was absolutely privileged, at the end of last year, to have the opportunity to attend a public rally in Brisbane and to see the passion, the commitment and the concern of the wonderful Queensland Iranian diaspora. I've been strengthened by the comments I've heard during the course of this week, from all parts of the chamber—from the government, from the Greens, from coalition members—providing support to our brothers and sisters in Iran and our thoughts and concerns with the Australian Iranian diaspora.

We know that there are vile things occurring on the internet, on Facebook, those who are putting up their hand and saying, 'Change must come to Iran.' Iranian people deserve freedom, deserve democracy and deserve their human rights to be protected. We know people who are raising their voices in Australia have been subject to attacks on the internet. I say to each and every one of those people: you have the support of every single senator in this place. We stand with you, we stand with our brothers and sisters in the Australian-Iranian diaspora, and we all stand united for human rights in Iran.