Page 1180 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 29 March 2017
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(4) also notes that despite our community’s overwhelming support for inclusivity:
(a) the Federal Government is signalling to the Australian community that it condones and supports a small minority’s wish to “offend, insult or humiliate” others on the basis of their race, without any repercussions, by seeking to amend section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cwlth); and
(b) the concerns flagged by Chinese, Jewish, Arab, Aboriginal, Indian, Greek and Armenian community leaders who in a joint statement warned that the Federal Liberal-National alterations to section 18C could “give a free pass to ugly and damaging forms of racial vilification”;
(5) takes responsibility to ensure Canberra is a place in which everyone belongs, by reaffirming that:
(a) as a progressive society, differences do not divide us but instead make our community an interesting and vibrant place to live;
(b) we do not and will not accept racial discrimination or vilification of community members or visitors; and
(c) we seek to embrace, support, advocate, celebrate and encourage those members of our community who may not feel accepted by others; and
(6) calls on the:
(a) Assembly to condemn the Federal Liberal-National Government’s decision to attempt to dramatically water down fundamental protections from racial vilification as currently set out in section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cwlth); and
(b) ACT Government to investigate what further steps may need to be taken to protect Canberrans and visitors from racial offence, insults, or humiliation, if the Commonwealth Parliament passes the proposed 18C amendments.
In my maiden speech I said that I was keen to be a champion of inclusion in the ACT. I am proud to live in a capital city that is inclusive. We embrace diversity and we are strengthened by it. That is why today I am moving this motion to highlight the positive aspects of inclusion here in Canberra.
This motion asks the Assembly to recognise that inclusion is a core value of our community here in the ACT. It has been fantastic to live in Canberra over the past two months and enjoy the diversity of our city of inclusion. Just this month I joined thousands of Canberrans at the Enlighten festival and the night noodle markets. It was fantastic to see the light displays which were clever, interactive and artistic, but many of these displays also had a message.
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