Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Community safety

Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (19:14): (1842) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Premier, and the action I seek is for the Premier to commit to implementing the remaining recommendations of the 2022 inquiry into extremism in Victoria. Neo-Nazis have no place, but yet again white supremacist, far-right extremist groups are openly organising and gathering in our streets, spewing racist poison, spreading fear and threatening our communities. Seeing a rally of 100 Nazi scum walking down the streets of Melbourne over the weekend utterly disgusted me, as it should disgust everyone in this house. But it is not surprising when you look at the history of this country, from the beginning of colonisation to the White Australia policy, to current anti-immigrant, anti-Indigenous rhetoric spouted in the mainstream, to the complete lack of meaningful action from governments in tackling far-right radicalisation in our communities. This is the result.

We and the broader community stand firmly alongside our black and brown, immigrant and refugee, First Nations, Jewish and Muslim communities: you belong here, you are welcome here and we have your back. But, Premier, it is time your government stepped in to stamp out these fascist, extremist groups before their stunts turn into something worse. The 2022 Greens-led inquiry into extremism laid out a clear path forward with 12 recommendations, including taking real counter-extremism measures with genuine funding for early intervention programs and support workers; expanded anti-racism education, particularly for young men prone to radicalisation; and cracking down on these far-right organisations advocating for violence, division and blatant white supremacy. Yet three years later your government has yet to implement all of the recommendations. All the while the fascists grow emboldened. They are now organising a public rally, the so-called March for Australia, on 31 August, the end of this month – an explicitly anti-immigrant hate parade planned to whip up fear and prejudice. Premier, the time to act is now. Implement the remaining recommendations immediately.