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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-03-19 Daily Xml
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Motions

Christchurch Mosques Attack

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:16): I move:

That this council—

(a) expresses its deepest sorrow and abhorrence at the senseless killing of innocent men, women and children in the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch on Friday 15 March 2019;

(b) mourns the tragic loss of life, and hopes for a full recovery of those injured;

(c) expresses its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of all those who are affected by this appalling event;

(d) stands in solidarity with the people of Christchurch—Adelaide's sister city—New Zealand, and South Australia's Muslim community;

(e) condemns terrorism and extremism in all its forms; and

(f) reaffirms its commitment to an inclusive and harmonious multicultural society.

I am sure I speak on behalf of all members of the Legislative Council, and indeed the speaking list indicates that a significant number of members want to make their own contribution and speak on this particular debate. As I said, I am sure the views that I express and that other members will express will, on one of those rare occasions, be views that all of us should be able to support wholeheartedly and embrace, and demonstrate a oneness of thought and views in relation to this particular event and its implications to the whole South Australian community.

I think we all reacted with shock and horror when we heard of the events of last Friday. It was made even more shocking, even more abhorrent than it could have been—and that seems barely able to be said—by the use of social media and in particular the live streaming of the events for a particular period of time to those who wished to see it or saw it on social media before they realised what was actually occurring.

It is not for me today to reflect the widespread abhorrence that has been reflected in all of the state, national and international media in relation to these particular events. It is probably difficult to summarise those in any short contribution, anyway, but I think that, as each of us as honourable members who have seen and heard the commentary will know, the shock, horror and abhorrence that we might individually have felt was certainly reflected in the broader South Australian, Australian and international community as to these senseless killings.

The fact that this occurred in Christchurch, which, because of natural events such as earthquakes, has suffered trauma and loss of life through different causes in recent times, makes it all the more terrible for the residents of Christchurch. The fact that Christchurch is Adelaide's sister city brings it home to many who, either through that or through their own personal travels, have travelled to Christchurch and have friends and acquaintances in Christchurch or the Christchurch broader community.

The motion that stands before the parliament today seeks to condemn terrorism and extremism in all its forms, and again I am sure that is a part of the motion that we could all wholeheartedly support and endorse. This, shocking in and of itself, sadly, reflects events we have seen around the world for many years. This particular motion is directed in particular to the events in Christchurch last week, but in doing so seeks support to condemn terrorism and extremism in all its forms.

Finally, as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council in, I think, one of the more harmonious states in the commonwealth, and perhaps, we would hope, one of the more harmonious states or regions in the world—and credit to governments and political parties of all political persuasions for many decades in South Australia—irrespective of our political differences and sometimes harsh political differences on a whole range of issues, by and large over many decades in South Australia, under Labor governments and under Liberal governments (with Labor oppositions and Liberal oppositions) and increasingly reflected in the broad multiparty nature of our parliaments, not just in the upper house, as it has been for many decades, but increasingly in recent years even in the House of Assembly, there has been strong support for the inclusive and harmonious multicultural society, which I am sure all of us support and endorse in South Australia.

It is a credit to governments and political parties of all persuasions in South Australia. It is not always as apparent in some other parts of even our nation and certainly other parts of the world. It is something we should celebrate, but nevertheless it is something we need to continue to work hard to support. Whilst there will be many political issues that divide us, that is, government and opposition and other parties, a commitment and a reaffirmation of a commitment to an inclusive, harmonious, multicultural society in South Australia is a cause, an objective, worth fighting for. Yes, it is worth celebrating for what we have achieved, but we need to continue to fight for it and support it whenever we get the opportunity in South Australia.

Whilst we acknowledge, in this proposed motion, the sorrow and abhorrence we feel in relation to these events, I hope we can do so within the broad ambit that we continue to work hard to the extent we can influence—and we can certainly influence what occurs in South Australia, although we acknowledge we have more limited influence internationally—and do what we can do in South Australia to support a harmonious multicultural society. I know I speak on behalf of all my colleagues, and I am sure I speak on behalf of all members of the Legislative Council, when I say that is a worthwhile goal we should continue to strive for.

With those words, and on behalf of government members in the chamber—and, as I said, I know that I also speak on behalf of the Premier; a similar motion is, I think, still being considered in the House of Assembly—we urge multipartisan support for the motion that stands before us this afternoon.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): I rise to second the motion.

He was a 71-year-old man who opened the door at the Al Noor Mosque and uttered the words, 'Hello, brother, welcome'. His final words. He had no idea of the hate that sat behind that door, but his welcome tells us so much. That he was a member of a faith that welcomed all its members, that showed openness and care.

These are the words of the New Zealand Prime Minister addressing a special session of the parliament this morning, describing the moments before the tragic events took place. On behalf of Labor, the Labor opposition, and all members of this council, I would like to officially pass on our condolences to the people of Christchurch and New Zealand in general.

We pay tribute to the 50 people who died and their families, and the countless others who have irreparably suffered physically and mentally as a result of this horrific attack. We acknowledge the police and the first responders to this tragedy. I would like to say to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the people of New Zealand that South Australia stands with you. We mourn with you. We offer our support to you and we offer, in any way we can, to help you rebuild a shattered community.

Last night at home I sat at the dinner table having dinner with the family and discussing the events of the day with my kids, and the events in New Zealand a few days ago came up. Being asked by a 10 year old, 'Dad, how does this sort of thing happen?', leaves you dumbfounded. It is as incomprehensible to a 45-year-old dad as it is to his 10-year-old son. I do not know how these sorts of things happen.

For an attack like this to occur in a place of worship has, understandably, shocked many. The three great Abrahamic religions—Christianity, Judaism and Islam—share much in common and, although I am not a religious person, one thing I am sure of is that the creator who is worshipped in each of these religions would not have acts like we saw in New Zealand carried out. Any reading of the holy writings of those religions would bear that out.

As I have said, like many I struggle to comprehend how someone could feel the kind of hatred that led to such an attack. It is the kind of hatred that is ingrained and cultivated over time. Like a poisonous mould, we have tolerated the spores of racism and intolerance that leads to this kind of hatred for too long. We see it every day, sometimes from those in politics using dog whistles of racism and xenophobia to racist comments we all let go of because it feels uncomfortable to address it.

We should not tolerate it in everyday conversation or jokes. We all have a part to play in dealing with the problem of racism, prejudice and bigotry. We need to shine a light on intolerance, to expel extremism of any kind, and to come together and stand in solidarity against ideas and ideals that divide and breed hate.

In the coming weeks and months in New Zealand, and in other places, there will be a time and a place to discuss other things that have come out of this tragedy: a debate about gun laws and ownership that I think, to our great credit, we have addressed and got relatively correct in Australia. The use of social media with relative anonymity to spread hate is also something that will come out of this and needs to be addressed.

I was very proud to see both Premier Steven Marshall and opposition leader Peter Malinauskas visit local leaders from the Muslim community and reassure those leaders on Sunday night in Marion. What the perpetrator of these events wanted to do was separate the community. That is why we cannot let it happen.

As I said, New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, paid tribute to the victims this morning in parliament. Prime Minister Ardern said she will not be naming the Australian gunman, and told others in New Zealand to do the same. She said to parliament this morning:

He may have sought notoriety, but we in New Zealand will give him nothing, not even his name. He is a terrorist. He is a criminal. He is an extremist. But he will, when I speak, be nameless.

The person who has committed these acts was not from here. He was not raised here. He did not find his ideology here. But that is not to say that those very same views do not live here.

I will not be naming that person either. He may be an Australian, but he is not one of us; that is not who we are.

A particularly vile, cowardly Australian senator, whom I also will not name, has used words of hate as a political weapon in the last few days. That senator may be Australian, but he is not one of us, and that is not who we are. We are a people and a nation that accepts, celebrates and thrives on diversity. We are a nation that proudly stems from the oldest living culture that this planet has ever seen. We are a nation that has flourished and been enriched by the diversity of our cultures from all around the world. We are a nation that stands in solidarity with our New Zealand brothers and sisters, and we are a nation that shares the pain and grief of the Muslim community. That is who we are. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our sister city of Christchurch.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:31): I rise to associate myself with the words of the motion and the previous speakers. I echo their sentiments that I think here in this place we are harmonious. I once worked for Amnesty, and I was often inspired by the saying, 'It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,' but today here we curse the darkness, and we also light the candle.

In our sister city, the darkness looms large. We stand united, however, with the Muslim community there and here, and more so we stand united in support of all community. We stand in support of compassion and kindness. We stand as elected members with a special role, a role where we can take action to ensure that such killings do not take place. We have the power to limit access to weapons that create these killings in such large numbers at the hands of so few.

We also have the power to control the words that are in themselves the very weapons that start these descents into hate, especially in this place where there is a contest of ideas and our democracy is played out. We can call out extremism and hate wherever they occur, be it in the mainstream or social media, be it in our homes, in our workplaces, in our social lives or, of course, on our sporting fields, but we must call it out in politics as parliamentarians.

We stand admired across the globe for our amnesty and eradication of such destructive firearms, of those guns that have caused death in significant numbers at the hands of few, but we must be vigilant and we must be watchful. Where we need to, we must again move to disarm. I note, of course, as previous speakers have done, that the Adler shotguns are such weapons.

Today, I also recommit myself to ensuring that the words that we use are not weaponised. We have the power to harm, to hurt and to humiliate, and ultimately those words, and the use of those words in that way, are where these atrocities start. The words that we use in this place and the words that we allow in the quest for votes to get us into this place are where that starts. It is a double-edged sword. We are shamed sometimes by the words that are used in our own names and by those we associate ourselves with.

It is said that darkness cannot drive out darkness, that only light can do that, and hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. They are very wise words by Martin Luther King Jr. Hate is powerful, but healing and hope are more so. Our words are powerful too, and we must call out those words where they first occur, as members of this place and as leaders of this community, and stand with all community for compassion and kindness.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:34): I rise also to speak in unequivocal support for the motion moved by the Treasurer expressing deepest sorrow at the senseless killing of 50 innocent people, women and children at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, sister city of Adelaide, and of course to those victims who did not lose their life but are continuing to suffer tragically from this event, and to associate myself also with the sentiments expressed by my colleagues.

First came the tragedy and then the heartbreaking aftermath. Friday was a dark day for Australia but an even darker day for Adelaide's sister city, Christchurch, and New Zealand as a whole. The horrendous, sickening, gutless and cowardly terrorist attack by what can only be described as a depraved Australian extremist, has reverberated across the globe. Many of us are still reeling from this senseless tragedy and coming to terms with how and why this occurred. Like all of us, it has been hard not to think about what the victims of last Friday's events must be going through, and there are countless victims.

My personal thoughts have been consumed by little three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim. He was at the first of the two mosques targeted during the attack, together with his father and brother. When the shooting started Mucad's brother Abdi Ibrahim got out of the mosque as fast as he could while his father pretended he was dead after he was shot, and then fled. Neither of them knew where little Mucad was and, like all of us would no doubt have done, his family hung onto the tiniest glimmer of hope that their son and brother may have made it out of the carnage alive. I, too, was hanging on to that little glimmer of hope for them, praying that he would be found alive.

On Friday night he remained missing, feared dead, and his family spent the night searching Christchurch Hospital and waiting for news from the police. On Friday night I hugged my little son just that little bit tighter. On Sunday night Mucad's father remained at the hospital hoping to see his smallest son for the first time since he was killed and hoping that yesterday would be the day that he could finally lay his youngest son to rest. Mucad's death encapsulates the inexplicability of this horrific man-made disaster.

He could have grown up to be a brilliant doctor or the prime minister. They were the words of Mohamud Hassan, a 21-year-old member of the Somali community in New Zealand, which comprises about 60 families. He shook his head when interviewed, an expression of the common refrain after all mass shootings and simply asked: why? Why, indeed.

On Saturday morning I called Mr Ali Kadir, State Director of Human Appeal International Australia, to extend my deepest sympathies to the many victims and their families and to offer our support, all of our support, in any way possible. What struck me most about the conversation was the underlying sentiment in his community in Australia of not 'if' but 'when' a tragedy of this scale would occur. Surely, this is the wake-up call Australia needs, and the world needs.

The entire blame rests on the shoulders of the sick perpetrator, an Australian extreme right terrorist who began firing at innocent people in their place of worship as they prayed, oblivious to the horror about to unfold around them. However, in due course, thinking must turn to how our own peaceful and loving country produced such evil: a person intent on hunting down and murdering innocent people. Politicians, and not just those from the fringes, along with media commentators who continually whip up fear, division and hate for political mileage and ratings, must be called to account. The fear of migrants and demonisation of refugees must stop. In the next two months Australians will go to the ballot box for the federal election, and I urge all Australians to choose courage over fear, love over hatred, togetherness over division, and community over disunity.

I have spoken previously about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in this chamber on my motion recognising New Zealand suffrage. She is well regarded by all sides of politics here and indeed across the globe for her intelligence, integrity and leadership. In the darkest hours of leading her country as Prime Minister it is easy to see why. In one of her country's greatest times of grief Prime Minister Ardern has shown the world what real leadership is really about: sympathy, love, integrity, resolve and determination.

Along the way, she has been able to eloquently and compassionately vocalise the shock and sadness that we all feel. 'They are us,' she said simply of the dead and wounded. There was no 'othering' of the Muslim community as separate and not belonging to the rest of us. Politicians in Australia all need to take note. New Zealand was chosen, she said:

Because we represent diversity, kindness, compassion, a home for those who share our values, refuge for those who need it. And those values…will not and cannot be shaken by this attack.

You may have chosen us, but we utterly reject and condemn you.

I echo Prime Minister Ardern's sentiments and repudiate those who seek to destroy our own multicultural nation, which we love and call home. I also acknowledge the absolute courage and commitment of the first responders on the scene—the brave men and women who walk towards danger, never away from it, despite not knowing what lies ahead. Again, as this sick, depraved and gutless excuse for an Australian opened fire on innocent people at the two mosques, emergency services personnel raced to the scenes of Friday's atrocities with little or no regard for their own safety.

This is what first responders do in any jurisdiction when the need arises. Our emergency services workers do not work in sterile environments; they put their hearts and souls into their work, constantly risking their lives. I thank them for their courageous efforts. Just as they care for others, we must care for them. We must stand united as we reject hatred and racism, because it has absolutely no place in modern Australia.

As another day breaks and the reality and heartbreak of this incomprehensible tragedy continues to sink in, my thoughts and prayers remain with all of our New Zealand brothers and sisters, and especially with our Muslim brothers and sisters. To the people of Christchurch and all of New Zealand, we stand with you in solidarity. To the heartbroken Muslim communities in Christchurch, New Zealand and Australia, we extend our deepest sympathies and our love.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. This term means, 'We belong to Allah (or God) and to Allah (or God) we shall return,' and it is commonly recited when a Muslim person experiences a tragedy in life, but especially when a person dies. I commend the motion to the council.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (14:42): I commend the government on introducing this motion and add my condolences to those who have lost loved ones in our sister city of Christchurch. The actions of one crazed individual has brought about grief and sorrow to not only those who have been directly affected with the loss of their loved ones but also to the entire world, which shares in their sadness.

I also want to add my condemnation against those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of twisted ideology or complete misinterpretation and misunderstanding of religion. I do not know of any religion which advocates for slaughter, especially against innocent individuals who are just going about their daily life. I also condemn those who stoke the fires of hate by spreading vitriol in the name of populism. These people, and those who provide a platform for them, should be held accountable.

I wholeheartedly believe that much of the negative attitudes towards those who are different to us is due to a lack of knowledge and exposure. Many people have prejudices based on what they hear from sources, which may not be portraying all of the information or, even worse, providing information which is blatantly incorrect. It is important that we continue to promote multiculturalism and harmony in all facets of life.

I want to commend New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on her response to this tragedy. Her decisiveness, mixed with the genuine compassion she has shown, has demonstrated statesmanship. Love and tolerance are infinite concepts that are not diminished by their spread. The more that love, kindness and tolerance are practised, the better it will be for our community. I, along with all members in this place, stand by Christchurch. Kia kaha.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:44): The act of evil that unfolded in Christchurch has shocked the world. The communities in New Zealand and in South Australia are still struggling to accept the loss of innocent lives from the horrific shootings at the two mosques in Christchurch. The shooting of people while they were acting in good faith, praying in their mosque, was an act of pure evil. It was a deliberate attack on all peace-loving people, and it was a merciless attack on humanity. We must all stand up to condemn this horrible form of racism and terrorism. Today, both houses of parliament are speaking out on this motion to express our deepest condolences to families, friends and communities who are deeply affected and devastated by the attacks.

New Zealand is a country closely aligned to the same values as Australia. It is a country that embraces people from diverse backgrounds regardless of their heritage, ethnicity or religion. We live in a society that is open, generous and respectful of all people, and these fundamental values must be preserved and protected in order for every one of us to have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

Many honourable members may be aware that I was born in Malaysia and lived in an area surrounded by mosques as a child and as a young teenager. Some of my closest friends and people I love are Muslims. The news of such a horrific event made me sad, it made me angry and it made me sick to learn that so many caring and loving people of Islamic faith—our brothers and sisters in New Zealand—have lost their lives due to a heartless act of violence against humanity.

The devastating act of violence which happened in Christchurch should be confronted and condemned in every way. When an act of evil tries to divide our society with hatred, fear and confusion we must stand firm and be united. We must be more resolved and better prepared to find ways to safeguard our values to live in an inclusive and harmonious society.

Many of us attended the community vigil on Sunday at the mosque on Marion Road. Guests included His Excellency the Governor, the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and many MPs and representatives from federal, state and local government. We expressed our deepest sympathy by standing in solidarity with the Muslim community in New Zealand and in South Australia. We stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart to pledge our love and support. We grieve with them and we feel their pain and suffering. May all the departed souls rest in peace. We join the Muslim community in prayer and mourn the tragic loss of life, and we send our thoughts to those who are injured for their full recovery.

I wish to express my sincere gratitude and thank religious leaders: president Ahmed Zreika, Dr Waleed Alkhazrajy, Houssam Abiad, Sahar Shahin and the organising committee and volunteers of the Islamic Society of South Australia, for their strong leadership and compassionate service and for responding quickly by bringing together members of the Muslim community of South Australia as well as leaders of all persuasions, including members from other faiths and those of no faith, for their moving and heartfelt community vigil.

I also want to thank other religious organisations, mosques, churches and temples for holding vigils to pay respect and honour the victims in Christchurch. Thank you to those caring individuals and groups from our compassionate community who reached out to the Muslim community across New Zealand and South Australia with your expressions of love through messages and flowers during this difficult time.

I join the Premier and all members of parliament to reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive and harmonious multicultural society. We must do everything we can to eliminate racism and prejudice, and condemn every form of terrorism and extremism. It is through our words, through our actions and through our deeds that we can collectively make our world a safer and better place to live.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:49): A place of worship is a place of prayer, a place of reflection, a place of learning and a place of peace, yet, last Friday in Christchurch, a place of prayer, reflection and peace became the scene of great horror. I commend all the speakers who rise today to support this motion, and I am confident and very pleased that, in this parliament, there will be unanimous agreement on this motion which expresses our deep sorrow and deep horror about what occurred in Christchurch last week.

These tragedies occurred in a place of worship. In New Zealand, and in Australia, we respect the rights of people of any faith to worship as they please. We respect their faiths and we respect their places of prayer, regardless of whether we share their religious views. That respect is a strength of our society. This is and should be a deeply multipartisan issue, as a previous speaker mentioned. We are standing in solidarity with the Muslim community over these horrendous attacks. We are standing in solidarity with people of every faith and none to have the freedom to express themselves with respect for all others.

Our state has a long history with the Islamic community. I am advised that the first Muslim mosque built in this nation was in South Australia, in Maree in the Far North, in around 1861. Religious traditions of the Islamic faith were observed by the Afghan camel drivers. We also saw the first significant mosque in any Australian city being built in 1888, the Central Adelaide Mosque in Gilbert Street.

Of course, Christchurch, New Zealand, is a sister city to Adelaide. Perhaps that is why it has been more shocking to some of us to see this kind of event happening in New Zealand, because we do see parallels in terms of our community and what we think are our community expectations in Australia. Was this a madman? Was this someone radicalised on the internet—someone who thought he could murder people because of their ethnicity or their faith? Imagine the feeling of those people within the mosque as soon as they realised their danger, as soon as they realised their loss, to themselves, their friends and their loved ones.

The idea that this could occur in a nation such as New Zealand has surprised many people. Of course, we see that it could occur in Australia, and again that has surprised many people. However, many people are not surprised. People who experience hatred or discrimination daily are not surprised. People who, because of their religious views, or their ethnicity, or any other attribute, are subject to insensitive language, outright insults and ignorant comments realise that that is the beginning of the kind of intolerance that can lead to the tragic events that we saw last week.

What is the antidote? The antidote is something that our society does have in the majority of people, I am confident. It is respect. It is a virtue that transcends all politics and is one that I think has been accepted by everyone in this place. The truth is that we are, and always have been, an immigrant nation. Respect for different views is paramount to the strength of our society.

I extend my condolences to the victims of these shootings, to their families, friends and communities and to all the people of New Zealand. Along with others here, I also express great gratitude to all those involved as first responders and as emergency services workers. We have the opportunity to draw something beautiful from the tragedy that is here, namely, that sense of being able to work together for something that is greater than us, that sense of being able to work for something that will transcend the times we live in and will lead to greater respect, greater tolerance and greater peace for our nation and those across the globe.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (14:54): I too support the motion, and my thoughts go out to the community in Christchurch at this time. The hate that motivated an Australian white supremacist to kill Muslim worshippers in Christchurch is a cancer on us all and it cannot be allowed to go untreated. There is no place for hate and there is no place for violence—not in New Zealand, not in Australia, not anywhere.

I received a message on the weekend from a Muslim friend of mine in Pakistan. He had heard what happened in Christchurch and he had also heard that an Australian-born citizen was the perpetrator. He was horrified that such a thing could happen in a normally peaceful part of the world. 'What's going on?' he asked. How do you respond to a question like that? We could say that this was just a terrible aberration, that such depraved and hateful thoughts and words and deeds are unknown in this part of the world, but we would know, deep down, that this is a lie.

Throughout its history, Australia has had a very mixed record in race and religious relations and how we deal with those who are perceived to be different. While some people rail against the so-called 'black armband' view of history, others remind us that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are destined to repeat it. As a nation, we know that we still have a long way to go in reconciling with our First Nation peoples.

Our sad history of genocide, dispossession, the stolen generation, wage theft and discrimination needs to be properly understood before it can be truly addressed. Also, as Australians, we are rightly proud that the White Australia policy was ditched over half a century ago. However, the transition to a more multicultural society has not always been easy. We had the Cronulla riots, and we still have both active and subtle racial and religious discrimination in this country.

However, what does give me hope is that more and more Australians of all backgrounds are learning and growing in their understanding of the connectedness of people and our shared destiny on this finite planet. More than ever, we have no excuse not to know the names and the stories of those around us. In this place we need only wander out to the steps of parliament about every other week, it seems, and talk with the people of the East Turkistan Australian Association, who are pleading with politicians to pay attention to the plight of their fellow Muslims who are suffering imprisonment and worse in China. Or any Friday afternoon you can go out onto the steps of parliament and you can talk to the refugee advocates who are urging a more compassionate approach to those who seek our protection from violence and persecution.

There is no shortage now of names and of stories. Once you know these stories, you cannot unknow them. The names of the 50 people killed in Christchurch on Friday, and many of their photos, are in today's newspaper. I do not expect that any of us here actually knew personally any of these people, but we now know their names and we know some of the stories. For example, we know of the heroism of Naeem Rashid, a 50-year-old teacher who desperately tried to wrest the gunman's weapon from him in a desperate bid to save others.

We know of Abdul Aziz, 48, who managed to distract the gunman by drawing attention to himself and eventually chasing him way, which undoubtably saved the lives of many people at the Linwood mosque. Aziz was a refugee from Afghanistan who has spent much of his life in Australia; he survived. We know, too, of Zulfirman Syah, who was shot several times whilst trying to shelter his young son. Hopefully, both father and son will survive, although their injuries will be with them forever, both physically and mentally.

We have also heard from many of the families who lost loved ones in Christchurch. We have been surprised at their bravery, their dignity and their focus on love and understanding rather than hate and revenge. So what are we to do? Firstly, we need to name and condemn those around us who express these ideas and who encourage hate and intolerance. No-one should be immune from our gaze, whether they be Queensland senators, other politicians, people in the media or those online anonymous spreaders of hate that we have heard so much about this week.

At a practical level, certainly the New Zealand government is now looking at gun control, just as Australia did after the Port Arthur massacre. There is now talk of increased control over social media so those with deranged thinking and evil intent do not have as easy access to the millions of people via these new internet technologies.

However, what I think would be even more important would be for those of us both inside parliament and outside to make an effort to get to know and understand those in the community with whom we do not normally mix. Many of us were at the Marion mosque on Sunday night. It was heartening to see so many people there, more than 1,000, with their flowers, their cards and their message of support and, most importantly at that time, simply their presence. However, as important as that event was, it is not the same as one-on-one connection between people.

One practical thing that we can do as members of parliament is to accept the next invitation that arrives from the Muslim community to attend one of their Iftar dinners during Ramadan. Muslim families all over Adelaide open their homes to non-Muslims to share a meal at the end of the day and to learn more about each other's lives and culture. Last year, Penny and I shared a meal at the home of Atilla and Serap in Parafield Gardens. It is a wonderful initiative of the Muslim community, which reaches across cultural divides and focuses on our shared humanity. That is the kind of Australia that I aspire to: people reaching out to others, people sharing food in their homes, people accepting others for who they are despite their differences. This is the road to more understanding and less fear, and it goes to the core of what it means to be a community.

Our hearts go out to those who have been directly affected by what happened in Christchurch on Friday. May we never forget our shared humanity, which overrides race and colour and creed, political views or any of the other things that people will use to try to divide us. A culture of fear in this country is unacceptable. As Australians, we are better than that and we will overcome if we have the will to do so.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:01): Thank you for the opportunity to speak and give my support for this motion. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims of this tragedy and to the Islamic communities in New Zealand and everywhere. While I was watching the horror in Christchurch unfold on TV in my office last Friday, a feeling of numbness and helplessness overcame me. That someone could commit such a heinous, cowardly act on innocents, young and old, in the peaceful solitude of prayer is abhorrent in any civilised society.

That this person, an Australian, would broadcast his evil act of hate on social media demonstrated that it was a deliberate, premeditated action designed to further divide and instil fear among us. We cannot ever allow this to happen and I am sure it will not. It will not break our solidarity in good over evil. That he chose to do it in a passive, compassionate nation that has often expressed its empathy for the most vulnerable in the world simply amplifies the senselessness of it all.

On sombre reflection over the past days, I examined and questioned the role my own profession, the mainstream media, has played in fanning the ugly flames of extremism in giving voice to these radical nationalists, white supremacists and bigots seeking a platform for their ultraconservative and violent views—views that cannot possibly sit comfortably with the culturally diverse Australia we have created out of the journeys of so many from almost every corner of the world.

The prejudice—some of it unintended—and insensitivity of broadcasters was evident. It took hours for them to finally refer to this crime as a terrorist attack. There were also stark contrasts in the headline treatment of the newspapers, particularly in the UK, which itself has been a target of extremists. Was it because they only attribute these types of attacks as terror related when they are committed by people identifying themselves as Muslim rather than an Anglo-Saxon white supremacist? It is sad to think that this type of thinking could still exist.

The images of the gunman broadcast were shocking. I could not watch it, but I was sickened reading a graphic description of it in the WeekendAustralian. Being in that editorial decision-making position myself once, I know what it is like to be torn between covering a live breaking story with such international significance and the public's right to know, while at the same time showing restraint and lucid judgement. Sometimes in the rush to get it to air, in print or online, rational thinking becomes a casualty. It did in this instance; some of those scenes should never have gone to air.

That is the responsibility of seasoned news directors or managing editors; they could control that. However, that the gunman was able to broadcast his vile crime live on social media, unrestrained, demonstrates the woeful inadequacies of these platforms that have become the preferred means of getting deranged views to a mass audience instantly. I hope governments around the world work together to do something to address this, and I commend the Prime Minister for declaring that he will raise it and seek global support at the next G20 meeting.

Information is vital for our law enforcement agencies to track down and keep watch over these Nazi-like nut cases. We have just passed a bill to enable police to access encrypted information in child exploitation cases. However, we do need another piece of legislation to counteract these felons who lurk on the dark web.

Politicians also have a strong social and moral responsibility to the community they represent. It is extremely gratifying to see the sincere outpouring of support from parliamentary colleagues, both in this chamber and the other place, as well as around the country, for the victims in Christchurch and our Islamic community and friends.

I will single out two politicians I consider responsible for giving oxygen to racist rednecks: Pauline Hanson, who has made it a career to whip up hysteria about immigration and the type of immigrants we have embraced. She started with Asians, and has now continued down that path with Muslims. I was in federal parliament the day she donned the burqa in the Senate; singularly the most disgraceful act I have ever witnessed from an elected member of any parliament. She continues to inflame extreme right-wing sentiment and Islamophobia, and she also gave us the appalling Fraser Anning, the now Independent senator who, at the weekend, blamed the victims of Christchurch for their fate.

I have a motion before the Legislative Council that came as a result of his overtly racist maiden speech last year. At the next federal election I trust he will be condemned into the obscurity to which he belongs. If there is something we have learnt from history, it is that we have learnt nothing. I hope and pray this now changes.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:07): I join the Leader of the Government and other honourable members in supporting this motion. The tragic events of last Friday have hit home. New Zealand as a nation is family; Christchurch as a city is our sister city. The victims as worshipers are people of faith, just going about their daily lives. They were children like three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim. They were professionals like cardiologist Amjad Hamid. They were mothers with their children like Karam Bibi. May we never forget them.

By standing in solidarity with the people of New Zealand, the people of Christchurch and people of the Muslim faith, we take this opportunity to affirm our shared humanity and our determination to stand against the extremism that denies the humanity of any of us.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:08): I stand to support the motion. The Saturday prior to that terrible massacre in Christchurch I attended the Al Salam Peace Festival in Veale Gardens, where leaders of the Islamic Society of South Australia and a number of members of parliament enjoyed a day with thousands of other people, just enjoying the peaceful ambiance and atmosphere of this festival.

It was very sad to then attend at the Park Holme Mosque with 1,000 other people, including many of the people who were at the Al Salam Peace Festival on the Sunday. At the mosque we were well represented by the political community and religious leaders. There were a lot of very good speeches, powerful and inspiring speeches, and the overriding theme of the speeches was that we should confront hate with love, disharmony with harmony, intolerance with tolerance and fear with courage.

It is an even greater tragedy when people are gunned down like that for no reason other than that they were at their mosque, at their place of prayer, saying their daily prayers. It is reassuring that I stand here united with everyone in this chamber and in the other place, and that this will be passed unanimously. We all stand as one against the evil tyranny we saw on Friday.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.

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