Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

History tells us that civilisations and empires are transitory. There are increasing signs now that Western culture has reached a tipping point. Left-wing activism supposedly based on equity, diversity and inclusion uses its allies in the media, the corporate sector and politics to prohibit any views it disapproves of. Too many of our modern leaders are not across this threat. They seem to think that defending our values is beneath them and that we have time on our side. We do not. Suicide and depression rates in our young people continue to skyrocket. We've failed to instil in them a sense of meaning and purpose, replacing it with empty modern ideologies like climate alarmism. On leaving school, young adults have little knowledge of history, the result of a curriculum denuded of Western history, replaced by critical race theory and a sense of victimhood.

Sadly, too many have cowered before these ideologies, afraid of being called the various isms and phobias, and they're wreaking havoc across the West. If a principled defence of liberty was ever needed in this country, it was over the past 2½ years, yet we were told that those concerned with freedom were dangerous extremists. We need more brave men and women to stand up for future generations of Australians and hand them a culture that is greater than the one left to us. The relative prosperity and peace we've enjoyed have allowed us to become complacent, thinking that such a decline couldn't happen here, but the time has come for our leaders to stand up for what is right. Without urgent, strong leadership the West is doomed.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why do you have to be so racist?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to draw to the attention of senators that these are short statements of two minutes, and I do expect members to be heard without interruption.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is my workplace.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, you are out of order. You need to contain your commentary to an appropriate standard for the Senate.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will not stand by—

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You will not be heard.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, a senator in this place just called another senator a racist, and I would ask for that to be withdrawn.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think that's entirely reasonable. Senator Thorpe?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was stating a fact.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, you must stand and withdraw.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not withdrawing, because it's a fact.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Right, take your seat, Senator Thorpe. Turn off the microphone. I'll take some advice from the Clerk. Take your seat.

Senator Thorpe, please resume your seat for a moment.

Senator Thorpe, I'm going to give you an opportunity to withdraw. Will you stand and assist the orderly business of the Senate by withdrawing?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you tell me what happens if I don't?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I'm not going to tell you anything else. I'm going to ask you to stand and, for the benefit of the Senate and the orderly progress of business, for you to withdraw. Senator Thorpe.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With all due respect, Acting Deputy President, could you please inform me what the ramifications would be for me to remove my remark about somebody being racist and me not feeling safe?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't want to give you a platform to repeat the terms that you've used.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I need to know what the ramifications are. Could I seek advice?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Turn off the microphone. Senator Thorpe, resume your seat. Senator Thorpe, you have the opportunity to assist the Senate by acceding to our standing orders and withdrawing a remark that was unparliamentary. That is what you are being asked to do. It doesn't remove it, but I am asking you, for the benefit of the Senate, to withdraw a remark that was not parliamentary. I'll take a point of order from you, Senator Faruqi.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to raise this point of order. It has happened in this chamber before that often, when there is racism thrown around in this chamber, it is the people who raise the—

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDEN T: Senator Faruqi, please resume your seat for a moment. I just want to be clear that we're not going to reprosecute every time that offence has occurred in the chamber, and I don't think this historical contribution is assisting at this point. I need you as, a fellow member of this chamber, to advise your colleague about standing orders and principles. It would be appropriate for the senator to withdraw. If she is unable to take that on—

I think people, when they are throwing around racism, need to be aware of what they are doing and how it's impacting on other people.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Broadcasting, do not open the microphone unless I called the senator's name. Senator Faruqi, what is your point of order?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is this: when decisions are made in this chamber, I think consideration needs to be given to the impact of comments from other senators on appropriateness and on racism.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to agree with you, Senator Faruqi, and that is why we have standing orders. So thank you for your point of order; please resume your seat. I am going to give you one final chance, Senator Thorpe, to withdraw your comment that was unparliamentary. You can either withdraw or you may not. What is your choice?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With all due respect, I need to be pointed to where using the word 'racism' in this parliament—I need to know where it's unparliamentary because I don't understand. I'm feeling violated—

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, please resume your seat. I'm assuming that you are refusing to withdraw and so I will be reporting this matter to the Senate. You no longer have the call. We will return to the program because this has taken up the time of people who want to speak. Senator Faruqi, you have the call to make your contribution.