Community safety
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:15): (1022) My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Minister, I had an alarming discussion with a constituent who called me regarding a health-related matter but concerningly spoke of her daughter’s recent experience. The woman’s daughter is a student at RMIT. She was having coffee with a friend last week and was confronted by another young woman who quite literally shoved a pro-Palestinian pamphlet in her face. When she said, ‘No, thank you,’ the woman then went up to her, ran her finger across her throat and said, ‘You will die.’ Minister, as you can imagine, this was a horrifying experience. I ask: what is the government doing to stamp out such vile and violent actions from individuals linked to groups that are intolerant of Victorians just going about their business?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:16): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. At the outset, can I say that that kind of behaviour is not acceptable. Whilst I accept that people have got sometimes very strong views but very different views about a whole range of issues in our state, including some of the issues around what has been occurring in the Middle East and in other parts of the world most recently, people have a responsibility to express those views in a respectful way and one that does not intimidate or harass individuals in the community. That is the first thing I would say in response, Ms Crozier, to the treatment that your constituent received – that it is unacceptable.
There are a range of measures that the government has been taking to combat this kind of hateful behaviour, including of course bringing into the Parliament and passing laws to strengthen our anti-vilification and social cohesion legislation. On this side of the house we voted for it. Secondly, I have asked for a comprehensive review of the multicultural settings in Victoria. I am not sure of the cultural background of your particular constituent; it may or may not be a relevant factor here. But it is important that we find ways to strengthen our multicultural settings and provide communities with the tools and the capacity to be able to build bridges rather than continue with this kind of disharmony in the community.
I would also, of course, urge Ms Crozier to, as I am sure you already have, encourage your constituents, if they feel it is an incident of particular seriousness, to come forward and report that kind of behaviour to the most appropriate agency and authorities. If it is something that the member would like to provide me with more details around, I would be very happy to see what relevant information I could provide via my department.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:18): Thank you, Minister, for that response, because it was alarming and all concerned were very upset about it. You spoke about the responsibility to express views in a respectful way, and I think we all agree with that. But in recent weeks there has been an increase in intolerance of groups and in protests that are disrupting our city. Businesses are fed up, and last Saturday a constituent was blocked from being able to get to the MCG. The appalling un-Australian rhetoric calling for the abolition of Australia and the targeting of police should not be tolerated by anyone. These ongoing pro-Palestinian protests are a threat to social cohesion, which you have mentioned, so I ask: what discussions have you had with the new police commissioner about multicultural social cohesion?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:19): I thank Ms Crozier for her supplementary. The Premier has been very clear about these issues. She has indicated that we will be bringing forward legislation this year to stamp out unacceptable protest behaviour. They are not matters in my specific portfolio. They are matters that the Attorney and the police minister are leading. But at the instigation of the Premier, there has also been an anti-hate taskforce established, which the chief commissioner attends regularly. And of course there are lots of regular opportunities for me as Minister for Multicultural Affairs to talk to not only my ministerial colleagues but also, you know, relevant leaders across our agencies, including VicPol. It is very important that our multicultural community feels supported by everyone.