Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Paterson for his question. I didn't see those comments. I understand that we as a government have made it very clear that we condemn these corrosive and irresponsible statements. Security agencies are aware of these statements. I understand NSW Police have commenced an investigation into this matter. All Australians should remember what the Director-General of Security recently said about the importance of considering the implications for social cohesion when making public statements. ASIO has seen direct connections between inflamed language and inflamed community tensions. So, as I said, we condemn these statements. They're corrosive and irresponsible. The security agencies are investigating the statements, as is NSW Police, and we'll await the results of those investigations.