❓ Question on Notice regarding the Cook Labor government's actions to prevent hate crimes and violent extremism, and awareness of divisive views, with the Minister highlighting government initiatives and criticising the Liberal Party's response to Senator Price's comments.
AnsweredQoN 450Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Community safety—Extremism
450. Mr Rhys Williams to
the Minister for Police:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to fostering safe and inclusive environments for
all Western Australians.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house what steps
are being taken to prevent hate crimes and violent extremism in our community?
(2) Is the minister aware of any opposing views or
comments that may divide our community?
450. Mr Rhys Williams to
the Minister for Police:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to fostering safe and inclusive environments for
all Western Australians.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house what steps
are being taken to prevent hate crimes and violent extremism in our community?
(2) Is the minister aware of any opposing views or
comments that may divide our community?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Mandurah
for the question and his obvious engagement in a range of communities in
Western Australia to promote inclusivity and cooperation within our society. Building
safe and inclusive communities is a key priority of the Cook Labor government.
We all want Western Australians to feel secure at home, at work and in the
community. This is critical. In recent months we have been reminded of the
dangers of extremism, with high profile Neo-Nazi behaviour across the country.
That is very disturbing and anxiety creating for people in our community, and for
certain community groups especially. I want to make it clear that racism and hatred
have no place in Western Australia. They attack our very values of respect,
inclusion and tolerance. They attack our values as Australians and Western
Australians.
Our government is supporting the
WA police to take a strong and coordinated approach to prevent hate crimes and
combat violent extremism. Earlier this year, our government's new laws came
into effect banning the display of Nazi symbols and gestures in Western
Australia. I would like to acknowledge the role of our current Attorney General
and also our former Attorney General and former Minister for Police in
progressing these very important changes and protections. I know that both
Attorneys General and the police have played a critical role in reassuring
certain members of our community that they have the protection of our state and
its security officers, in terms of WA police. As I said, this important work is
being supported by the WA Police Force, which has established a dedicated hate
crime team—one of the first such teams in the country, in fact. Full-time
investigators and online operatives focus on investigating and countering hate-motivated
incidents. These cowardly acts will not be tolerated and offenders will face the
full force of the law. I want Western Australians to know that the Cook Labor
government stands with them regardless of who they are, what community they are
part of or what background they have; we are standing behind you.
The member asked whether I was
aware of any opposing views that may divide the community, and I will now get
to that point. I guess this goes to the very role we have in this chamber, and how
important it is for us to demonstrate with clarity where we stand on these
issues. Last week, after the Parliament rose, a Liberal Party fundraiser was
held at the Willetton Indian Community Centre featuring Senator Jacinta
Nampijinpa Price. Members will be well aware of the senator's comments about the
Indian community—comments that this government has condemned in the
strongest possible way. They were comments that even the federal Leader of the
Liberal Party has condemned. Not only has the federal Leader of the Liberal
Party condemned those comments, but she also saw fit to sack the senator from
the front bench and has also seen fit to apologise to the community on the
senator's behalf. We now come to the observation of what our Leader of the
Opposition had to say on this matter. Has our opposition leader taken the same
strong approach as the federal opposition leader? I want to just quote what the
Leader of the Opposition in this place had to say on social media about this
matter:
I think saying sorry is the
appropriate thing to do and it is what I would do if I was in that position.
That was not exactly resounding
condemnation, not exactly resounding clarity and not exactly unequivocal
language! It was not exactly the condemnation that we saw from the federal leader.
The Leader of the Opposition allowed this fundraiser, held in an Indian
community centre, to take place. It was organised by one of his MPs, Hon Michelle
Hofmann. Not only that, but also one of the members of his shadow cabinet, Hon Nick
Goiran, was actually a guest of honour at this event.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: He's a leader.
Mr Reece Whitby: He is a leader in your party. We know
how much he leads! The question is: When will the Leader of the Opposition utterly
reject the senator's comments and do as his federal leader has done—that
is right: put your jaw forward and nod knowingly—and
apologise for what the senator has done and, indeed, for holding that
fundraiser with that senator?
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Reece Whitby: We know that Senator Nampijinpa Price
has not yet apologised, and who knows whether she ever will. The question is: Will
the Leader of the Opposition apologise?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Reece Whitby: Members opposite can make those
comments and can joke, carry on and nod in an overly serious way, but these are
real issues in the community. If you are in the Indian community, these are
issues of concern. If you are in the Jewish community, these are issues of
concern.
Mr Basil Zempilas: What about the Greek
community?
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Reece Whitby: What on earth are you talking about?
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, sit down. Members of the
opposition!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Minister, have
you concluded?
Mr Reece Whitby: I will, Speaker. It was an odd
response—very odd. As the self-appointed Messiah of the Liberal Party,
do you have it in your power to apologise? Do you even have the courage to
apologise?
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. The member for
Nedlands with the last question.
for the question and his obvious engagement in a range of communities in
Western Australia to promote inclusivity and cooperation within our society. Building
safe and inclusive communities is a key priority of the Cook Labor government.
We all want Western Australians to feel secure at home, at work and in the
community. This is critical. In recent months we have been reminded of the
dangers of extremism, with high profile Neo-Nazi behaviour across the country.
That is very disturbing and anxiety creating for people in our community, and for
certain community groups especially. I want to make it clear that racism and hatred
have no place in Western Australia. They attack our very values of respect,
inclusion and tolerance. They attack our values as Australians and Western
Australians.
Our government is supporting the
WA police to take a strong and coordinated approach to prevent hate crimes and
combat violent extremism. Earlier this year, our government's new laws came
into effect banning the display of Nazi symbols and gestures in Western
Australia. I would like to acknowledge the role of our current Attorney General
and also our former Attorney General and former Minister for Police in
progressing these very important changes and protections. I know that both
Attorneys General and the police have played a critical role in reassuring
certain members of our community that they have the protection of our state and
its security officers, in terms of WA police. As I said, this important work is
being supported by the WA Police Force, which has established a dedicated hate
crime team—one of the first such teams in the country, in fact. Full-time
investigators and online operatives focus on investigating and countering hate-motivated
incidents. These cowardly acts will not be tolerated and offenders will face the
full force of the law. I want Western Australians to know that the Cook Labor
government stands with them regardless of who they are, what community they are
part of or what background they have; we are standing behind you.
The member asked whether I was
aware of any opposing views that may divide the community, and I will now get
to that point. I guess this goes to the very role we have in this chamber, and how
important it is for us to demonstrate with clarity where we stand on these
issues. Last week, after the Parliament rose, a Liberal Party fundraiser was
held at the Willetton Indian Community Centre featuring Senator Jacinta
Nampijinpa Price. Members will be well aware of the senator's comments about the
Indian community—comments that this government has condemned in the
strongest possible way. They were comments that even the federal Leader of the
Liberal Party has condemned. Not only has the federal Leader of the Liberal
Party condemned those comments, but she also saw fit to sack the senator from
the front bench and has also seen fit to apologise to the community on the
senator's behalf. We now come to the observation of what our Leader of the
Opposition had to say on this matter. Has our opposition leader taken the same
strong approach as the federal opposition leader? I want to just quote what the
Leader of the Opposition in this place had to say on social media about this
matter:
I think saying sorry is the
appropriate thing to do and it is what I would do if I was in that position.
That was not exactly resounding
condemnation, not exactly resounding clarity and not exactly unequivocal
language! It was not exactly the condemnation that we saw from the federal leader.
The Leader of the Opposition allowed this fundraiser, held in an Indian
community centre, to take place. It was organised by one of his MPs, Hon Michelle
Hofmann. Not only that, but also one of the members of his shadow cabinet, Hon Nick
Goiran, was actually a guest of honour at this event.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: He's a leader.
Mr Reece Whitby: He is a leader in your party. We know
how much he leads! The question is: When will the Leader of the Opposition utterly
reject the senator's comments and do as his federal leader has done—that
is right: put your jaw forward and nod knowingly—and
apologise for what the senator has done and, indeed, for holding that
fundraiser with that senator?
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Reece Whitby: We know that Senator Nampijinpa Price
has not yet apologised, and who knows whether she ever will. The question is: Will
the Leader of the Opposition apologise?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Reece Whitby: Members opposite can make those
comments and can joke, carry on and nod in an overly serious way, but these are
real issues in the community. If you are in the Indian community, these are
issues of concern. If you are in the Jewish community, these are issues of
concern.
Mr Basil Zempilas: What about the Greek
community?
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Reece Whitby: What on earth are you talking about?
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, sit down. Members of the
opposition!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Minister, have
you concluded?
Mr Reece Whitby: I will, Speaker. It was an odd
response—very odd. As the self-appointed Messiah of the Liberal Party,
do you have it in your power to apologise? Do you even have the courage to
apologise?
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. The member for
Nedlands with the last question.
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