Australia: Racism

The majority voted in against an amendment introduced by Victorian MP Lidia Thorpe (Independent), which means it failed. These types of motions do not make any legal changes in themselves but are politically influential because they represent the will of the Senate.

Amendment text

Omit paragraphs (a) to (d), substitute:

condemns:

the racist, white supremacist and anti-immigrant rallies held over the weekend and condemns the support of and attendance at the rallies by MPs, and

the far-right extremist neo-Nazis, including the National Socialist Network, who in Melbourne attacked Camp Sovereignty, a site of Aboriginal resistance and sacred resting place of 38 Nations;

notes that:

racism and anti-immigrant hate has been normalised and legitimised in this country by politicians and by the media who fan the flames of hate,

dog whistling on First Peoples, migrants, refugees and international students by politicians of all stripes has emboldened the far right,

politicians have used hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises,

the alarm has been sounded on far-right extremism for years and has been routinely ignored, and

the far-right movement in this country is a continuation of the original violence and genocide against First Peoples that has occurred since invasion;

reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, neo-Nazism and right-wing extremism; and

calls on the Government to:

condemn these white supremacist attacks, and

ensure the Australian Federal Police investigates the attacks on Camp Sovereignty as hate crimes and acts of terrorism.

Original amendment

Omit all words after "That the Senate", substitute:

(a) affirms that Australia is a nation that welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace;

(b) therefore rejects the racism, white supremacy and condemnation of immigrants on display at rallies held over the weekend, and profoundly disapproves of MPs supporting and attending these rallies;

(c) calls upon all political representatives to:

(i) reject the normalisation or legitimisation of racism and anti-immigrant hate in this country,

(ii) reject dog whistling on First Peoples, migrants, refugees and international students, which has emboldened the far-right,

(iii) reject any use of hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises,

(iv) reject any attempt to downplay or ignore concerns about far-right extremism, and

(v) stand together against far-right extremism as alien to Australia and the values of this nation; and

(d) reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, neo-Nazism and right-wing extremism.