Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) reaffirms its commitment to the right of all Australians to enjoy equal rights and be treated with equal respect, regardless of race, colour, creed or origin;

(b) reaffirms its commitment to maintaining an immigration policy wholly non-discriminatory on grounds of race, colour, creed or origin;

(c) reaffirms its commitment to the process of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in the context of redressing their profound social and economic disadvantage;

(d) reaffirms its commitment to maintaining Australia as a culturally diverse, tolerant and open society, united by an overriding commitment to our nation, and its democratic institutions and values; and

(e) denounces racial intolerance in any form as incompatible with the kind of society we are and want to be.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion to celebrate and reaffirm the Australian values of a fair go and mutual respect. Our Australia is one in which we find unity in our diversity. We are defined not by one race but by many, we are defined not by one culture but by many, we are defined not by one religion but by many and we are defined not by one way of life but by many. What joins us is that we call ourselves Australian. As citizens of this country, each of our destinies is tied to all the others and that is what makes us strong.

Question agreed to.