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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Racism systematically disadvantages and immensely harms people of colour. The dispossession of and violence against First Nations that started with invasion continues to this day. The 21st of March is marked the world over as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, IDERD, which the Howard government replaced with Harmony Day to erase historic and ongoing racism in Australia. Then the Morrison government concocted Harmony Week, an entire week to whitewash the reality of racism. Not actively tackling racism at this time while hiding behind a mask of harmony is hollow and harmful, and it doesn't make us feel good. Minister, will the Albanese government replace the superficial Harmony Week with a meaningful week of antiracism?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Order! Senator Faruqi and her party have listened in silence to questions asked by the opposition. Senator McKenzie in particular, you need to listen in silence. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had the opportunity today to go down to my department to speak about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and to launch a report that I'm very proud of, which is about trying to ensure that within the foreign service we not only ensure that everybody can be the best they can be and are not held back but, more importantly, celebrate and make front and centre one of our great strengths as a nation, which is our diversity; that we bring the experience of First Nations people and that proud heritage to our foreign policy and to our diplomacy; and that we leverage and utilise all of the talents of the diverse cohort which makes up the people who work for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I also say to you that it's what we all do to eliminate racism. It's what we do in our lives, it's what we do in this chamber, it's what we do in our workplaces, it's what we do on public transport and it's how we speak. One of the things I would really encourage in this place is for us to try to speak as a collective, because I would hope that, on this issue, we actually share values. My view on what things are called is that I personally don't have an issue with the word 'harmony', but I'm also happy to talk about the elimination of racial discrimination and my own personal experience of racism, to try to empower those who still experience racism too often and so often and to do all we can to ensure we live in a society and a world and operate in this chamber in a way that is respectful and inclusive. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?

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

Minister, today is Closing the Gap Day, and we are nowhere near closing the gap. Last week marked five years since the Christchurch mosque massacre by an Australian white supremacist, yet we don't even have a national antiracism strategy yet. Minister, will the government follow the Greens in establishing a standalone antiracism portfolio in cabinet to reckon with the seriousness of racism in this country?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I just go to the last point? I think it's all of our jobs. I do. I think racism is still pervasive. We know what it means. It derives from seeing another person as other and diminishing them—

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

It happens every day, Minister.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I really find it distressing that you are going to interrupt when I am talking about this.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, I ask you to direct your answers to the chair. Senator McKim?

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was going to be my point of order.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you finished your answer, Senator Wong? Senator Faruqi, second supplementary?

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

Minister, IDERC marks the day police massacred 69 peaceful protesters demonstrating against apartheid in South Africa. Australian governments were shameful supporters of white apartheid South Africa until Labor Prime Minister Whitlam took action.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi.

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

Minister, we are now witnessing an apartheid against Palestinians.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, please—

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

What will it take—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi! Order across the chamber! Senator Faruqi, I should not have had to ask you three times to resume your seat, but the interjections, particularly from my left side, were disgraceful. The senator has the right to ask her question in silence. Senator Faruqi, please continue.

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

Minister, what will it take for the Labor government to withdraw its support for the apartheid and genocidal state of Israel?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, as I'm sure you're aware, that is a long bow to draw. It's really up to the minister whether she answers that second supplementary or not, but I'm going to invite her to respond.

Honourable senators interjecting—

There will be silence in this chamber.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First, the senator would know we have been very clear about our call for a humanitarian ceasefire and of the importance of international humanitarian law. Senator, I am also disappointed that, if the question begins with a discussion of racial discrimination, you would go to as political an issue as that, but that's your choice. The third thing I would say—

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

The issue is about racism.

Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Release the hostages!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, please resume your seat. I have asked for respectful silence. That is what I expect. Minister Wong, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My third point is this: we have a responsibility in this chamber to model how our democracy should operate, including where we hold very deeply felt different views, because what brings us together as Australians matters more than that difference. I want to place on record my disappointment at the way in which some of the frankly abusive and extreme things we have seen are being condoned by some in this chamber. (Time expired.)