The March for Australia rallies from Sunday (31 August) have been widely condemned as racist. Photo: Facebook.
The Legislative Assembly has rejected a chance to uniformly condemn Sunday’s anti-immigration rallies, citing procedural issues with the way the ACT Greens brought the motion.
Party leader Shane Rattenbury said it was incumbent on all MLAs to stand in solidarity with multicultural communities following the rallies, which have already been condemned in the Federal Parliament as demonising immigrants and being hijacked by neo-Nazis.
“These rallies have unacceptably left our multicultural communities feeling unsafe in a city they proudly call home: a city that, in turn, proudly calls them Canberrans,” he said.
“As public figures and community leaders, every member of this Assembly has a responsibility to call out these rallies for what they are: blatant racist dog-whistles that have no place in a city that strives to be inclusive, safe and welcoming for all.”
Greens anti-racism spokesperson Andrew Braddock said he had received physical threats in response to his comments on social media condemning the rallies.
He said this was one reason it was important for the Assembly to stand up against the “division and hate”.
“It is important for the Assembly to demonstrate our support and condemnation of racist actions,” Mr Braddock said.
“Racism, xenophobia and fascism are not free speech, they are deliberate attempts to fracture our communities and normalise hate.
“We must call them out for what they are.”
Liberals backbencher Elizabeth Lee broke ranks, calling Mr Rattenbury’s motion “incredibly important”.
“I am disappointed personally that we will not be proceeding with it but … I can do the maths,” she said.
“Given the arguments that have been made … I won’t be supporting the suspension [of standing orders] but I just want to put on the record that it is an incredibly important motion and I thank the Greens for bringing it.”
Ms Lee earlier described the disappointment and hurt caused by the marches, and the impact on people with migrant backgrounds.
“For every Australian migrant who publicly stands up against hatred, racism and bigotry, there are thousands of others who do not,” she said.
“For many, it’s not because they don’t care and it’s not because they’re not hurt. It’s because they’re fearful for their personal safety, their job security, their social standing in their community.”
Ms Lee described how backlash she’d received for standing up against racism and sexism had impacted her on a personal level.
“I have felt a deep, personal shame, in secretly wishing, while pregnant, that my children will look more Anglo or in giving them Anglo names, because I know it will make life easier for them,” she said.
“Many of us carry a deep sense of insecurity about whether we actually belong here … when we see tens of thousands of Australians chanting out what we already fear, it is another stab that feeds our insecurity, that, no, we don’t truly belong here.
“To any migrant … know you are valued and know you belong here.”
ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals voted against suspending Assembly standing orders on Thursday (4 September) to allow debate on the matter.
Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said members had not been given enough notice about the motion and there wasn’t space in the day’s schedule.
She admitted motions had been moved with little notice in the past, but the ACT Greens had since Monday to put something together.
“We genuinely could have worked together from Sunday night onwards … we appreciate the intent [but this isn’t the way] to go about it,” Ms Cheyne said.
“We have another six sitting days in this month alone … to genuinely come together with a form of words that everyone supports.”
Liberal whip Ed Cocks said the ACT Greens had “ample opportunity” to work with other parties and MLAs to create a statement everyone was behind.
Minister Michael Pettersson included a note about the rallies in his annual speech on multicultural affairs.
Read by Chief Minister Andrew Barr, it condemned the violence and aggression, particularly that had been directed at First Nations people.
“This behaviour will not be tolerated here and I want to use this opportunity to condemn the hatred and racism,” it read.
“We reject fear and exclusion, and stand firm in protecting the rights, safety and dignity of all Canberrans. We stand with community members from multicultural and diverse backgrounds and thank them for the contribution they make to this city.”
