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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the:

(i) serious concern among Victorians and representatives of Victoria's multicultural community over the Government's proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, and

(ii) the work of the Action 18C campaign, which has resulted in 47 local councils passing motions opposing the change, representing over 5 million Australians;

(b) supports the right of every Victorian to live without fear of discrimination or hostility based on race, culture or religion; and

(c) calls on the Attorney-General to abandon the proposed changes, particularly to section 18C, that would repeal protections against racial vilification and embolden the enemies of Australia's vibrant multicultural community.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) 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

This motion not only expresses serious concerns about the proposal to open the door to race hate but also seeks to congratulate people from right around the country who are working tirelessly to protect the right of every person to live without the fear of discrimination. In particular, it congratulates people like Erin Chew and Kingsley Liu from the Project 18C campaign—people who have worked with local councils from right across the country, now with 48 councils signing onto resolutions representing over five million constituents who have expressed their concern about the changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. It is through actions like these from local councils and the work of people like those people behind Project 18C that we will see this racist, hateful discrimination defeated here in this place in the Senate.

Question agreed to.