Page 692 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019
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As the Leader of the Opposition has rightly pointed out, it is likely that in years to come we will remember where we were when we heard the unfolding news from Christchurch on 15 March 2019. Possibly more importantly than where we were on that day, however, will be whether we know where we will be in the future as we each respond to the prompt to grieve and also the call to act. Our city is at its strongest when it welcomes, when it includes, when it cares and when it supports. We are dedicated to being a restorative city, one which acknowledges the hurt and restores the relationships so that we can all belong, we can all be valued and we can all participate. This condolence motion provides an additional impetus to be found in the places of action for a stronger and more inclusive community.
MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (10.43): Last week we woke up to shocking news, and in our grief we come together. I have been pondering for some time the song by the Seekers than means so much to Australians, and I think it is very important that we all focus on these words as we go forward politically in this place:
I am, you are, we are Australian.
This one song has come to mean so much. In the wake of the Christchurch attack I look forward to a time when people of every faith—whatever faith—and no faith are safe and confident in this city and in this country.
This is why I dropped everything on Sunday to go and visit the Gungahlin mosque when I heard of the distress that people were experiencing. I took that message that we are all Australian to the mosque. It was a great opportunity in a way, even through the sadness, to have a chance to come, because I had not had a reason or the ability to visit the mosque before. I found at the mosque some of my great friends that I have known for many years. I did not know who to expect to see there. We are all Canberrans and all Australians.
Our Muslim community has been an entrenched part of our lives for generations and anybody who would try to make an argument that that is not the case is lying. Any form of targeting or talking down people of goodwill who are doing their best to work towards heaven, to face our own human weaknesses and to live for a higher purpose is absolutely wrong, and at every opportunity that I have in this place I will speak against it.
This debate is not the end of this matter. This debate is a moment for a new beginning, a new and a great conversation about how we can help each other. We must ask each other what more we can do. Words are not enough to combat the fears. We should offer concrete actions, and I hope we will come to that later this week. There is so much more to do.
It is normal in many government departments to have higher levels of security. We must offer that to those who feel they need it in our community. We must stand together against this fear and create a situation where our Muslim brothers and sisters know that when they go out into the community they are protected by us, that we would put ourselves in between someone who would hurt them and themselves. That is my pledge to you today, and that is my pledge to the people of Canberra.
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