Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (10:01): Here in Victoria we say we are a proud multicultural society. We say everyone deserves to be treated with dignity; everyone deserves a fair go. It sounds fair, but the reality for many is it never feels fair. Across Australia and around the world we are witnessing the relentless rise of racism everywhere: in sporting arenas, in the media, in workplaces, in our local communities and even at decision-making tables and in political spaces. Even right here in this place it is upheld in the institution, shouted across the chamber or written into laws that allow children to be imprisoned for life. We know which children will be most affected: First Nations children, black and brown children. Actively building systems that punish marginalised groups is inherently racist. Beyond this building we see religious groups being targeted and sacred places of worship attacked. We see the Aboriginal Fitzroy Stars netball team being vilified with racist abuse and imitations of monkey noises and gorillas beating their chests. We see a man in Western Australia charged with terrorist acts against Muslim worship and an attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally in Boorloo / Perth. We are witnessing a disturbing rise in racism, in anti-Muslim hate, in antisemitism and in the growth of far-right white supremacist groups exploiting people’s fears to recruit and divide. This hatred is not fading, it is festering.