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

At the request of Senator McCarthy, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that all people in Australia, regardless of their ethnicity, cultural or religious background, deserve to be respected in our society;

(b) notes the letter from more than 30 community groups in response to a rise in racist attacks and commentary in Australia;

(c) acknowledges that racism has negative physiological and psychological impacts; and

(d) calls on the Government to:

(i) immediately begin a bipartisan approach to the development of a national racism strategy that will build a more tolerant and inclusive society, and

(ii) immediately begin a bipartisan approach to developing a national racism campaign that educates and sends a message of zero tolerance to any form of racism in Australia.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia is the greatest multicultural society in the world. The government calls out racism when it occurs and has zero tolerance for the very small minority that seek to divide our nation. The government has an ongoing communications strategy to send a clear message that racism is not acceptable and that no-one has to put up with it.

Question agreed to.