Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Wong, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 21 March 2017 is Harmony Day, a day which celebrates Australia's cultural diversity and demonstrates cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home, and

(ii) Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;

(b) endorses Harmony Day's message 'everyone belongs';

(c) notes the success of Australia's laws in protecting Australians from discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, key to Australia's success as a multicultural society; and

(d) reaffirms its commitment to the right of all Australians to enjoy equal rights and be treated with equal respect regardless of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) 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.

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

Thank you, Mr President. Today the world pauses to reflect on efforts everywhere to end discrimination and vilification on the basis of race, colour, ethnicity or national origin. Today in Australia we are proudly celebrating Harmony Day. We are the most successful, peaceful, multicultural nation in the world. Today Australians everywhere from all over the world are going to school together; they are working together; they are living together; they are loving each other—just like they do every day.

But today also a very small group of people within the Liberal Party are trying to attack the very fabric of our proud and peaceful multicultural nation. Our commitment to cultural diversity and to our way of life runs far too deep for that. Instead, we will work together on Ngunnawal land on what really matters. We understand that racism has no place in Australia, that it must be eliminated to protect our wonderfully diverse and harmonious society.

Question agreed to.