Community safety
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (15:24): Over the weekend a group of neo-Nazis gathered once again, spreading their hatred and racism with signs calling for mass deportations now. This comes after other protests by the National Socialist Network and the carrying of banners saying ‘Australia for the white man’. These far-right extremists are harassing and menacing us all, but especially every migrant and every culturally diverse member of our community. For years now the Greens have been calling for the Victorian government to respond seriously to the rise of far-right extremism. We initiated a parliamentary inquiry that found there are things that governments can do now to stop this kind of racism and hatred taking a stronger hold and spreading. But instead of genuinely responding and providing proper funding for the social connection programs the inquiry recommended, we continue to see Labor wringing their hands, saying they are anxious about social cohesion and then choosing to lecture diverse communities rather than taking action against the actual threats we face.
Labor seems to think that social cohesion is when everyone agrees with them. In the face of the largest movement for peace, against the invasion of Gaza and the slaughter of Palestinians, they are asking our diverse communities to behave in the way that is acceptable to them and to stop making Labor feel uncomfortable. Well, that is not going to achieve social cohesion. It is not going to be achieved by asking people to stay silent in the face of a genocide, and it is not going to be achieved by asking people to stop protesting in the face of profound pain. Social cohesion is achieved when our diverse communities feel heard and trust our leaders to take action for them and with them.