Extremism
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:06): (82) My question is to the Attorney-General, representing the Premier. Like many Victorians, I was horrified to see neo-Nazis join with anti-trans bigots on the steps of Parliament to promote hateful and intolerant far-right ideology. These movements are dangerous, they are linked to each other and they have no place in Victoria. While the Greens welcome the government’s intention to ban the Nazi salute, banning symbols and gestures must be part of a bigger response to address the root causes of the growth of far-right extremism in Victoria. In the last Parliament, the Legal and Social Issues Committee undertook an inquiry into extremism in Victoria, which made a number of recommendations on addressing the rise of far-right extremism in this state, including investing in more social cohesion and community building. The government has not responded to this inquiry as yet, and the response is now overdue. Attorney, will your government commit to implementing all recommendations from this inquiry as a matter of urgency?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:07): I thank Dr Ratnam for her question, and indeed I agree with the sentiments that she has brought to the chamber today in relation to the outrageous and cowardly acts that we saw on the steps of Parliament on Saturday. I think many of us were not only shocked but frankly just could not believe what we were seeing. There are some legislative responses to respond to that action. I was on the record yesterday as saying that we will progress laws to ensure that the Nazi salute is outlawed. The fact that we have even got to do that in Victoria is quite upsetting, but nonetheless we will get it done.
I know your question is for the Premier, but there is a lot in my space as well. There is a parliamentary committee report from the Legal and Social Issues Committee of the Legislative Assembly that looked at anti-vilification reforms. That is effectively where the banning of the Nazi Hakenkreuz came from in the first instance, which we proudly passed in this chamber. But they also had further recommendations around protecting more Victorians from vilification, strengthening civil anti-vilification laws, strengthening criminal anti-vilification laws, expanding the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s powers to prevent vilification and requiring organisations to prevent vilification. These are recommendations that we have committed to in principle, and I have been advancing those. Actually that is where we were looking potentially at how we could ban the salute as well. After the events on Saturday, we have decided to bring forward the consideration of how we can legislate in relation to the salute, but that does not mean that these amendments are not progressing as well. We have got some consultation papers that will be going out soon in relation to that, and I think it will pick up a lot of the work that you have identified by the committee from this place in relation to extremism.
These are important issues. This government is committed to protecting our most vulnerable, and if we have to legislate to pick up the sentiments of most Victorians, then that is what will get on and do. I look forward to your collaboration as we advance those reforms.
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:09): Thank you very much, Attorney, for your response. I welcome hearing the progress that has been made, and we certainly look forward to a response to all of the recommendations of that important inquiry. That inquiry also found that far-right extremist movements cause harm to the LGBTQIA+ community and that far-right extremists may see the mainstreaming of homophobic and transphobic sentiments in public discourse as legitimising the targeting of LGBTQIA+ Victorians. Given the clear connection we saw on Saturday between neo-Nazi groups and anti-trans bigots, will you ensure that addressing the relationship between far-right extremism and transphobic movements is part of the government’s response to preventing the rise of far-right extremism?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:10): Just to pick up on my earlier responses about the fact that your question is directed to the Premier, I also happen to be sitting next to the equality minister. We are all focused on these important issues. We certainly want to make sure that we do everything possible to ensure that equality extends to everybody in Victoria. It is non-negotiable, and we will have more to say in this space as we advance a lot of those reforms. I welcome your interest and obviously your involvement. Many people in this chamber will be part of that work.