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.
Senator FARUQI (New South Wales) (14:18): 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 interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: 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.
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:19): 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)
The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?
Senator FARUQI (New South Wales) (14:21): 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?
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:22): 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—
Senator Faruqi: It happens every day, Minister.
Senator WONG: I really find it distressing that you are going to interrupt when I am talking about this.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I ask you to direct your answers to the chair. Senator McKim?
Senator McKim: That was going to be my point of order.
The PRESIDENT: Have you finished your answer, Senator Wong? Senator Faruqi, second supplementary?
Senator FARUQI (New South Wales) (14:23): 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.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi.
Senator FARUQI: Minister, we are now witnessing an apartheid against Palestinians.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, please—
Senator FARUQI: What will it take—
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: 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.
Senator FARUQI: Minister, what will it take for the Labor government to withdraw its support for the apartheid and genocidal state of Israel?
The PRESIDENT: 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—
The PRESIDENT: There will be silence in this chamber.
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:25): 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—
Senator Faruqi: The issue is about racism.
Senator Hughes: Release the hostages!
The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, please resume your seat. I have asked for respectful silence. That is what I expect. Minister Wong, please continue.
Senator WONG: 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.)