Thursday, 28 August 2025

Community safety

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:26): (1033) I have a further question to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. I refer to the welcome decision of the Commonwealth to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation made by the Commonwealth in the wake of ASIO’s discovery of links between the Iranian government and at least two incidents in Australia, including the terrible Adass synagogue bombing. I ask the minister: has the government or any member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission had any links or dealings with the Iranian revolutionary guard?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:26): I think that there is a whiff of desperation today – an absolute stench of desperation over there today – because obviously they are deeply embarrassed about their performance last night in this place. What I will say about the –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, we all understand that question time is for questions to be answered by ministers and not to attack the opposition.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, you are 100 per cent right on that ruling. As I said before, it is very difficult when the question can be to the point of being quite provocative.

David Davis: It is actually a simple question.

The PRESIDENT: I am a simple man, and I am trying to deal with question time today.

Ingrid STITT: What I was about to go to was my ministers statement in this place this week welcoming the Prime Minister and the foreign minister’s statements, their decisive leadership on this issue and the fact that they have taken swift action in relation to any foreign actor acting in this way in Australia. I know how much concern there has been right across the government and right across the community about the events at the Adass Israel Synagogue. Many of us have been to visit that community in the aftermath of that dreadful, dreadful arson attack. I went down there the day after the attack. What I would point out to Mr Davis, in his ongoing attempts to dirty up particular organisations and people in this state, is that commissioners of the VMC went down there in the days after that attack to offer their support to that community, which was very well received – a very important gesture on the part of the organisation in our state who are charged with upholding social cohesion. Maybe those opposite might want to reflect on that and actually spend a bit more time talking about how they are going to bring people together rather than continue to divide.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:29): I note the minister did not specifically answer the question. I ask therefore: is the minister prepared to ensure that the VMC investigates any links that agencies it has dealt with or individuals it has dealt with may have with the revolutionary guards?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:30): I thank Mr Davis for his supplementary question. What I would say is that I have very clear expectations of the VMC in terms of them acquitting their legislative obligations under the Victorian multicultural act, and that is subject to regular correspondence from me to the commission and discussions that are ongoing about their role in upholding community harmony in Victoria. If there are investigations to be held about anyone suspected of being involved with any terrorist organisation or any event that might implicate them more broadly, what I would say is that is a matter for the AFP and for the federal agencies in this space.