Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am making a habit of asking questions of the Leader of the Government in the Senate. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Last week the leader of the Liberal Party's preferred partner, One Nation, said, 'Islam is a disease; we need to vaccinate ourselves against that,' and promoted the hashtag 'Pray4MuslimBan'. Was the Prime Minister correct when he said, 'Demonising the Muslim community or attributing to all Muslims the responsibility for the crimes of a tiny percentage is exactly what the terrorists want'?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister was absolutely correct to say that—absolutely correct to say that. With all due respect to Senator Hanson, I think she was quite wrong to make the observation that she made. I might say to you, Mr President, that the advice that I have received for as long as I have been the Attorney, which is 3½ years now, from both ASIO and the Australian Federal Police is that constructive engagement with Islamic leaders, with Muslim leaders, in Australia is absolutely vital to their work in anticipating the conduct of terrorists and terrorist recruiters and terrorist financiers in Australian Islamic communities and stopping it. So I would implore all members of the Senate, every last single member of the Senate—through you, Mr President—including you, Senator Hanson, when making the observations you do, which you are perfectly entitled to make about multiculturalism, to remember that the overwhelming majority of the members of the Australian Muslim community are peace-loving, patriotic, loyal Australians whose cooperation we badly need.

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

Senator Dastyari, a supplementary question.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that Senator Sinodinos has endorsed One Nation as being 'more sophisticated', has the Prime Minister counselled Senator Sinodinos about the danger of endorsing One Nation and its policies?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dastyari, you begin with a very important and valuable question, and unfortunately you follow it up with a foolish, undergraduate question, as if a comment by Senator Hanson on one issue—which I regret and the Prime Minister regrets—amounts to the entirety of One Nation's contribution to Australian politics or to this chamber. I entirely agree with what Senator Sinodinos has had to say and have had similar things to say myself. In terms of its contribution in this chamber, Senator Dastyari, I am bound to say Senator Hanson and her colleagues have made a more sophisticated contribution than the level of sophistication evident in your supplementary question.

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

Senator Dastyari, a final supplementary question.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If Prime Minister Turnbull thinks One Nation is saying—and I quote him—'exactly what the terrorists want', when will he stop helping One Nation get elected and direct all branches of the Liberal Party to put One Nation last?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dastyari, you are the one who attacks others for demonising people. Do not demonise people yourself. The fact is that there is represented in this chamber a variety of points of view, including the point of view represented by One Nation. Nearly one million Australians voted for the One Nation party at the 2016 election. I will defend Senator Hanson's right to make her contribution, but, on occasions when I think she is quite wrong, as I think she was quite wrong in the observation you referenced in your initial question, I will say so.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order on both sides! Senator Seselja, Senator Cameron and Senator Wong!