Chris Ketter (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Prime Minister's commitment to a multicultural Australia in which racism and discrimination have no place. I also refer to One Nation's policy to abolish multiculturalism, which it describes as 'negative and divisive, a weight that is drowning our once safe and cohesive society'. Does Senator Hanson's policy align with the government's commitment to a multicultural Australia?

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

You know it doesn't, Senator Ketter. I'm disappointed in you for asking that question. You know it doesn't, and you know my views of Senator Hanson's attitude to multicultural Australia. You know that perfectly well. The Turnbull government is absolutely committed—as is the Liberal Party, as is the National Party, as is the LNP—to a multicultural Australia in which all cultures, all faiths and all walks of life are treated with dignity and respect. That is a core value of the Turnbull government. It always has been and always will be.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ketter, a supplementary question?

Chris Ketter (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Attorney-General for that answer. In light of the Prime Minister's statement, has the Prime Minister raised concerns about One Nation's policy to abolish multiculturalism with LNP leader Mr Nicholls following his decision to preference One Nation in no less than 49 seats in the forthcoming Queensland election?

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

Senator Ketter, that is just not true. That is just not true. If you'd been listening to my friend Senator Macdonald in the take note debate yesterday, you would know that the LNP has made no preference deals whatsoever with One Nation. No preference deals with One Nation, no coalition, no shared ministry—none whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Senator Ketter, you sit in a caucus with colleagues who were elected to this parliament on One Nation preferences. I remember being a scrutineer in the seat of Herbert last year when the member for Herbert, Cathy O'Toole, was returned to the House of Representatives on the back of One Nation preferences. And she wasn't the only one.

The people of Queensland have a clear choice at the Queensland election between the incompetent Palaszczuk Labor government and Tim Nicholls's LNP.

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

Forty-nine seats!

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Ketter, we'll wait until there's silence. Senator Ketter, a final supplementary question.

Chris Ketter (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Attorney-General again. I also refer to this minister's own previous statement in this chamber that Senator Hanson's ridicule of the Islamic community was 'an appalling thing to do'. In light of his condemnation, has this minister raised any concerns at all with the Queensland LNP leader about his decision to preference One Nation in the upcoming state election? If not, why not?

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

Senator Ketter, you keep saying this and it's just not true. It is just not true. There has been no decision to do any deal. In fact, there has been a decision to do no deals with One Nation. No deals, no coalitions, no joint ministries—none.

Meanwhile, Senator Ketter, if you'd heard Senator Macdonald's very eloquent contribution to the debate yesterday afternoon, it would have been pointed out to you by Senator Macdonald that the Queensland Council of Unions and various other trade unions who are your backers and financiers are running a campaign in North Queensland as we speak to put the LNP last—in other words, to preference One Nation ahead of the LNP. So if you want to know who is talking out of both sides of their mouth on this, Senator Ketter, just look in the mirror because it's the ALP that is playing a double game on the question of One Nation preferences.