Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before moving general business notice of motion No. 968, I ask that the names of Senators Keneally, Wong, Katy Gallagher, Urquhart, O'Neill, Carr, Marielle Smith, Polley, Kitching, Dodson, Bilyk, Ayres, Sterle, Ciccone and Brown be added to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Keneally, Wong, Katy Gallagher, Urquhart, O'Neill, Carr, Marielle Smith, Polley, Kitching, Dodson, Bilyk, Ayres, Sterle, Ciccone and Brown, move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges 27 January 2021 marked the 76th anniversary since the liberation of Auschwitz and is recognised as the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust;

(b) pays its respects to the 11 million people killed during the Holocaust, including six million people of Jewish faith;

(c) further acknowledges the Holocaust serves as a reminder not to be indifferent to hate and hate speech, and to show compassion for others;

(d) notes that:

(i) the Director-General of ASIO warned Australians that the extreme right wing threat is growing in Australia with small cells regularly meeting to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons, train in combat and share their hateful ideology, and

(ii) Australia is the only country inside the Five Eyes Intelligence Network not to proscribe any right-wing extremist group as a terrorist organisation;

(e) further notes that attacks on democracy, such as the insurrection on the United States Capitol Building which featured the presence of anti-Semitic symbols and sentiment, represents an existential threat to our collective safety;

(f) recognises the right to free speech comes with responsibilities; it does not give anyone entitlement to sow division and hate; and

(g) condemns the resurgence of anti-Semitism in Australia and around the globe.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens wholeheartedly support this motion. We must never forget the six million Jewish people, including 1½ million children, who were murdered during the Holocaust along with the Roma and Sinti peoples, same-sex attracted people and disabled who were specifically targeted by the Nazis and their collaborators for annihilation. Nor must we forget all who have perished since because of anti-Semitism and white supremacism. It's up to all of us in this place to fight the rise of extremist groups that seek to sow division and hate and to do Australians harm. The gathering of neo-Nazi extremists in the Grampians on Gunditjmara country over the 'Invasion Day' weekend, on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, should be a wake-up call to us all. Nazis are not a thing of the past. Our leaders must call them out.

Question agreed to.