Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (19:18): (1596) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the other place, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Wendouree to show support to the Ballarat Muslim community, which has been impacted by Islamophobia. Recently families gathered at a community centre in Alfredton for an iftar dinner, and a terrifying Islamophobic incident took place. It has shaken not only the people in attendance but people across Ballarat. A man entered the venue and aggressively threatened attendees with racially offensive and anti-Muslim abuse. Men, women and children were frightened, and I know that following that dreadful incident at the community centre in Alfredton, many people have been deeply affected.

The Muslim families who were targeted at the event are a part of the fabric of my community. They are our neighbours, our friends and our workmates. They are our doctors, our pharmacists, our nurses. They teach our children, they work at local businesses and they serve our community. They make Ballarat a better place to live by the contribution they make every single day. They are a part of Ballarat. They deserve to feel safe here and they deserve to feel respected. Anti-Muslim hate has no place in Ballarat. No-one in our community should ever feel unsafe because of who they are or how they pray.

Hate like this does not just appear out of nowhere. It grows when people are singled out, when whole communities are blamed, when fear replaces understanding. Today and every day I stand with the Ballarat Muslim community, united against hate and united for each other. But let me be very clear: this kind of hate does not come out of nowhere. It grows when people are blamed. That is exactly what Pauline Hanson and One Nation do by spreading fear and division, and the Liberal Party stands right beside them. In the South Australian election this weekend the Liberal Party will preference One Nation in all seats over Labor. And when you stand with Pauline Hanson, you give life to the same politics of fear and division.

To my Muslim community, I want to let you know this: we stand with you today and every day, and we will not let the Liberal Party and Pauline Hanson divide our community by using hate and fear to win votes. When the Liberals and One Nation make multicultural communities feel less safe, Labor will always back our multicultural communities. To my Muslim community and especially the children who were frightened that night: you are respected and valued, and most importantly, you belong in Ballarat. We will continue working together to make sure everyone in our community feels safe and is welcomed and supported, because kindness and inclusion are stronger than hate and fear, and respect is stronger than division.