Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak to the beauty, strength and resilience of the queer community, my sister girls, brother boys, intersex and disabled siblings. I rise in solidarity against the police, the armed branch of this racist colonial project, who have persecuted first peoples, queer, trans and gender-diverse people since colonisation. Far-Right fascist violence is on the rise. White supremacists are targeting local councils to shut down pride events. The police advice in response has been to cancel these events. Five events have been cancelled in Melbourne alone.

Police do not respect us. Police do not protect us. They never have, never will, but they will protect Nazis standing on the steps of government buildings. Transphobia and black inferiority are colonialism in action, and it has a strong history of dehumanising queer and black folk to justify state-sanctioned violence. Since colonisation, we have resisted, we have protested ,and there is pride in protest. Anti-protest laws are being rushed in across the country, giving police more power to suppress resistance to the colony. The latest Productivity Commission report showed federal and state funding of 'justice services' amounted to $22 billion per year. Of this, 64.5 per cent, or $14 billion, goes toward police, who—always have and always will—brutalise our communities. We cannot look to police. We need to look to each other. (Time expired)