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

I move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes the contribution to Australia's vibrant multicultural society by citizens of all cultures and religions;

  (b)   condemns anyone who vilifies any cultural or religious group;

  (c)   notes:

     (i)   the application by Dutch politician Mr Geert Wilders to visit Australia to speak against multiculturalism and Muslim immigration, and

     (ii)   with alarm, his public statements describing Muslim culture as retarded and barbaric and comparing the Koran to Mein Kampf; and

  (d)   calls on all members of the Australian Parliament to reject the hateful anti-Muslim views of Mr Wilders and his Australian sponsors.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a brief statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. We are not going to support a motion condemning a member of parliament from another country for the views that they express. The parliament has legislated a visa regime that ensures that all visa applications are assessed appropriately and other provisions in domestic law relating to racial and religious vilification.

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

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

Mr President, I think it is critically important that we do support this motion, particularly on the back of the recent protests in Sydney. Multiculturalism is one of this country's enduring successes. There are people here, and right across the world, who are prepared to tear it down. We know that Geert Wilders has put in an application for a visa to come to this country and we know that there are members of this place who actually support his hateful views. We have had Senator Bernardi, who is currently in hiding in the UK, describe Mr Wilders as a 'charming and charismatic individual'. In fact, he supported his views and said he wanted to facilitate his visit to this country.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order: I think that the comments that are made by the senator are not consistent with the requirements under the standing orders for brief statements.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think you should withdraw that imputation.

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

What was the imputation, sorry, Mr President?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not traverse. I am asking you to withdraw the imputation.

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

I am not sure what I am withdrawing.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Continue, Senator Di Natale.

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

We have Senator Bernardi, who is, to use the opposition leader, Mr Tony Abbott's words, 'freelancing on the backbench'.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. There are requirements involved that are applicable to all senators when it comes to providing brief statements in the context of these motions. The senator is not complying with the requirements under standing orders in the context of brief statements.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understood that the senator did withdraw the offending comments.

Opposition senators: He didn't withdraw!

Let us just get it clarified: Senator Di Natale, you withdraw the offending comments in the statement that you made.

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

I asked for clarification of the offending comments.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I do not clarify; I do not repeat offending comments. You are aware of what the offending comments are in respect of Senator Bernardi.

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

The point is I am not aware. I just want some clarification.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order: Senator Di Natale was reflecting on a member of the Senate, and he should withdraw that reflection.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is correct. Senator Di Natale, you were reflecting on a member of the Senate; you should withdraw that.

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

If those reflections relate to the words 'in hiding', I withdraw those. I do say, however, that not to support this motion is to condone Senator Cory Bernardi's support of Geert Wilders—a hateful, spiteful and corrosive figure. To not support this motion indicates support for those views.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate. This motion must have been written with the word tartuffery in mind. It is hypocritical piety. You read:

  (b)   condemns anyone who vilifies any cultural or religious group;

Let us think about the Australian Greens behaviour. For example, on 3 April 2004, the Australian Greens leader called for a public register of all Exclusive Brethren workplaces. What is that, if that is not vilification of a particular religious group—which, chances are, none of us in this place would actually agree with? Or what about the vicious BDS campaign that the Greens have supported over the years? (Time expired)

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Di Natale be agreed to.