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

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) expresses its profound disapproval of Senator Thorpe's disrespectful and disruptive protest at the Parliamentary Reception for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 21 October 2024 given that the senator has many other avenues to express her views;

(b) censures Senator Thorpe for the disruptive and disrespectful conduct at the Parliamentary Reception and for her disrespect of democratic institutions, including our Parliament of which she is a member;

(c) calls on all senators to respect our democratic institutions, including our Parliament, to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive actions which reflect poorly on the Senate, both inside and outside the chamber, at all times;

(d) in light of this conduct, does not regard it as appropriate for Senator Thorpe to represent the Senate as a member of any delegation during the life of this parliament; and

(e) notes that arrangements for future parliamentary addresses by visiting leaders has been referred to the Procedure Committee.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I echo the words of Senator Wong in terms of the deep concern at the behaviour that pursues attention seeking and, in the pursuit of attention seeking, brings this chamber into disrespect and reflects poorly upon the conduct of senators through the actions of just a few.

In relation to Senator Thorpe, let me be clear: this motion is not about what she said and it is not about her right to say it or her views. Those we defend. But it is about the conduct that was undertaken and the disruptive, disorderly and disrespectful approach that reflected so poorly upon all senators and this chamber and brought us into disrepute. That is why it is worthy and warranted of censure. Our urging of all senators remains to engage thoughtfully in the issues to find ways to pursue them. We are all provided with a platform to speak, unlike anything that almost any other Australian enjoys. We should use that platform with not only respect and care but, indeed, passion to pursue our views, no matter how vehemently each of us may disagree with them or, indeed, occasionally be offended by them.

President, in relation to Senator Thorpe, I also reference the controversy that followed in the days after the King's visit. As you're aware, I wrote to you in relation to both what occurred in the Great Hall and Senator Thorpe's conduct at that time. I thank you for agreeing to the Procedure Committee considering that incident and look forward to the deliberations of that committee in considering how it is that this Senate may best uphold the importance of the opportunities provided for this parliament and governments of the day to give opportunities to visiting dignitaries, be they our head of state, the reigning sovereign and monarch, or visiting dignitaries in the form of heads of other countries or governments of other countries.

The actions and the increasing pattern we've seen of disruptive conduct endanger the ability of governments of the day to provide that platform without visiting guests believing that they may be disrespected and that their visit may be brought into disrepute. Considering, through the procedure committee, those opportunities for this chamber to have greater power, outside of its own sittings, over formal occasions of the parliament to be able to try to discourage and remove the incentive for senators to behave in such disrespectful and disorderly ways is, I think, an important thing.

The other aspect of the controversy that flowed on in the days after that event was in relation to Senator Thorpe's statements about her affirmation of office and the compliance with that with regard to section 42 of the Constitution. President, I appreciate your reply to me. I invite you, at an appropriate time, to ensure that the chamber is informed such that this is properly on the public record with regard to the assessment by you, on advice from the Clerk and after consideration of the legal principles. Many of us have, unfortunately, lived through the disruptions in relation to eligibility requirements for election to this parliament. Section 42 goes to a different matter in relation to eligibility to take up a seat in the chamber following election. It is, nonetheless, a very important one.

I am sure that, like me, all senators have received a vast volume of correspondence from people concerned about what appeared to be a statement denying that the proper affirmation had taken place. That is very serious. Equally, we appreciate the constitutional duties and responsibilities that you have to uphold the terms of the Constitution, as interpreted and applied within relevant acts, and our standing orders as they are set out. That is why I think it is critical for you to place on the record the assessment that has been undertaken such that all senators are able to refer to that in the correspondence and reassurance they give to constituents about the validity of every person to sit and exercise their votes in this place.

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

I will take up the invitation as you've offered it.

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

What a disgrace Labor and the Liberals are, calling for Senator Thorpe to be censured for telling the truth about invasion, dispossession and the genocide of First Nations people in this country. That is just contemptible. I thought we still lived in a democracy. We have a right to protest. We have a right to dissent. We have a right to disrupt. That's what Senator Thorpe did. But you want to police black women. You want to police the way we, black and brown people, disrupt and dissent. You want us to be boxed into what a white supremacist system sees as the right way to protest and dissent.

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

Senator Faruqi, resume your seat. Senator Wong.

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

I ask that that be withdrawn.

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

Senator Faruqi, I'll ask you to withdraw, in the interests of the chamber, the comments that you've made in relation to people's colour.

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

Sorry, President, I don't understand why that went against the rules.

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

I am not suggesting it goes against the rules. What I said to you was that, in the interests of harmony across the chamber, I would ask you to withdraw those comments.

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

President, when black and brown people are being vilified and attacked left, right and centre, where is the harmony for them?

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Please resume your seat, Senator Faruqi. Senators who are interjecting, I remind you I am dealing with this matter, and I am asking you to be silent. Senator Faruqi, I asked you, in the interests of the chamber, to either accept my advice or reject my advice, but you are not in a debate with me. I will invite you once again to withdraw those comments.

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

I withdraw, just so you can allow me to speak, because here in this chamber our voices are shut down.

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

Senator Faruqi—

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

I withdraw.

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

Thank you. Please continue.

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

Where was the harmony, where was the disrepute of this chamber when Senator Hanson racially vilified me, when both Labor and the Liberals joined up to not censure her? Now, the Federal Court has found in a very strong ruling that Senator Pauline Hanson racially vilified me and fell foul of the Racial Discrimination Act. Will you be ashamed now? Will you censure her too? You are very quick to censure a black woman, but do nothing when a brown woman is racially vilified by a colleague in this workplace. I hope you can hang your heads in shame.

It is true that the bubble of white privilege that encapsulates this parliament is a systemic issue, and that is why we are here today debating a black senator being censured for telling the truth of the British Crown's genocide on First Nations people and telling it the way that she wants to. Stop attacking and vilifying First Nations people, brown people, refugees and migrants, which is what is happening at the moment in this country. For once, sit down and listen to First Nations people. Listen to their truth and the way they want to tell it. Listen to their truth of how the British crown wreaked havoc on First Nations people here and on people of colour around the world.

The truth is the British Empire and the colonial forces have inflicted huge suffering and horrific atrocities on First Nations people, but you want to shut that down. You want First Nations people who tell their truth to shut up because you don't like the way they tell the truth. You want them to be polite. There are First Nations people who are being killed in custody. First Nations people bear the worst of racism and discrimination in this country, but that's all fine. Let's shut down a black woman who talks about it.

Truth-telling is uncomfortable. It should be uncomfortable, so feel that discomfort a bit, hear it and try and do something about it. Preserving the British monarchy is to preserve white supremacy and the systemic racist structures that were built by the empire and that persist and that harm, hurt and kill people to this day. You know what? It is time for this country to embrace a republic which is rooted in decolonisation and sovereignty for First Nations peoples, but you're not going to listen to this. You're not going to listen to people in any other way, shape or form unless we scream and shout and force you to listen. The Greens vehemently oppose this censure motion against Senator Thorpe.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't debate the merits of this motion. I'm not going to go into those in detail. Others have made their cases. I do have a point about process that I would like to make briefly. My understanding is Senator Thorpe is not here at the moment and, without foreshadowing the Notice Paper, I think we will have a similar situation next.

A censure motion should be one of the more serious processes and motions we debate in this chamber. I think we diminish and reduce its seriousness by calling on this debate at a time when the senator in question is not even here to be provided with a right of reply or to provide a defence. I think we're cheapening this measure here by doing it in this way. I support the motion the government is putting forward, but I also absolutely support the right of my colleague Senator Thorpe to be in the chamber to hear the arguments against her and to be in the chamber to respond to those arguments, if she so chooses to. But that right has been denied her, because the government has brought this on in what can only be described as a kangaroo-court fashion where the defendant is not even here to defend herself. That process should be condemned, and I hope there is not a precedent being set in this place where we do not treat our colleagues with respect.

There is no doubt that the conduct of Senator Thorpe has been widely condemned across our society, and I think it was regrettable that what should have been a special moment for many Australians was diminished by her conduct, but we ourselves don't correct that sin by not upholding proper standards of process in this place. I believe the Leader of the Government is to get up here, and maybe she could respond to my points about why the government has brought this on without allowing a Senate colleague to defend themselves on a motion of this seriousness.

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

There are a few points. First, this was discussed with your leader, Senator Canavan, and we will make—

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That doesn't defend your position.

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

Order!

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

I listened to you, Senator Canavan. We will make time available for Senator Thorpe to speak. We are mindful, as I said at the outset, that both she and Senator Babet are doing this in order to create more attention, and you have assisted and facilitated more of that this morning.

Senator Faruqi, our position on Senator Hanson and her views is longstanding. Our position on her views in relation to race precedes—

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

You still refused to censure her.

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

I listened to you. This is the point: you wish us to listen to you, but you do not wish to listen to us. You denigrate us, and you use words like you used in your speech in order to denigrate.

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

Senator Wong, I advise you to direct your comments to the chair.

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

I hope that goes both ways, Senator. I would remind you, Senator Faruqi, that when Senator Hanson first raised her views on Asian immigration—about Australia being swamped by Asians—there were many of us inside the Labor Party and inside the community who worked, protested and advocated against her. I would also remind you of the motion we passed in support of you and the speech I gave in support of you in relation to her words about you. I just would remind you of that.

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

It's still not censure.

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

Order!

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

We seem to have come to a place where senators' behaviour in this place and beyond is designed to cause outrage, is designed to gain media attention and so often does not reflect well on this chamber and on what Australians expect of us, having been sent here. We have enormous privilege being here. We have, legally, absolute privilege in this place, and that should be exercised with a degree of responsibility and respect for the other.

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

The question is that the censure motion regarding the conduct of Senator Thorpe, as moved by Senator Wong, be agreed to?