Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Extremism

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (16:54): (108) My adjournment matter is for the Premier. The action I seek is for the Premier to take on the growing threat of transphobic ideology and implement the recommendations of the inquiry into far-right extremism. Just under a month ago I requested that the Minister for Equality meet with me and representatives of our trans and gender-diverse community. This was in light of vile comments made in this place about my community. I am ashamed and outraged that today I need to call out this behaviour again.

On Saturday, as members would be aware, a pack of far-right, anti-trans campaigners and supporters gathered on the steps of this Parliament. I, alongside hundreds of queer people and allies, assembled across the street in order to oppose them. We saw the police pepper spraying and brutalising trans people. We saw how far-right activists were left undisturbed, free to demonstrate and assemble as they pleased. We saw their speakers spouting queerphobic hate and bile to their followers. We saw their signs referring to me and my peers as freaks, as paedophiles. They stood alongside Nazis as they gave Nazi salutes and marched on the steps of this building. But what was truly bone-chilling was to see members of this chamber standing with them. This is simply unacceptable. Prior to the rally a member of this chamber escorted an anti-trans figure around Parliament grounds like a guest of honour. And to quote the guest, ‘It’s not very often you get endorsed by an MP.’ How disgusting. What an embarrassment to this Parliament – not to mention that the same member then went on to speak at the rally.

In the days since, many trans and gender-diverse people have expressed the sheer terror they felt being confronted with this behaviour – to see hatred against a vulnerable community so openly tolerated on our streets, to see neo-Nazis, transphobes and members of Parliament rallying together and to see police turn around and violently intimidate those who showed up to oppose them. How should trans people feel knowing that there are people in Parliament who want their identity erased?

Right now Victoria’s anti-vilification laws do not protect people on the basis of gender or sexuality. This needs to change. We need to take action to ensure this does not happen again, to ensure the queer community are protected from harm and are free to live as their authentic selves. I know we can work together to expel far-right ideology and Nazism from Victoria. I call on the Premier to adopt the recommendations of the inquiry into far-right extremism, thereby affirming that these views have no place in this Parliament or in our community.