Page 694 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
I understand this because my brother was shot over 15 years ago in a mass shooting. I understand that the sorrow, the loss and the fear can continue for quite some time. It affects everyone. The immediate family, the wider family, friends, colleagues, people who share your faith and your church, first responders and the entire community will suffer.
While it leaves me heartbroken that so many more people in Christchurch are going to suffer in this way—they are going to feel the pain, the loss and the mourning—the Muslim community must know that we are united with you. We are your brothers and sisters and we are with you in your hope, your courage, your faith, your love and your future. My condolences.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (10.52): I rise today to express my condolences to all those affected by Friday’s terrorist act in Christchurch. My thoughts are with those in New Zealand and with the broader Islamic community in New Zealand, in this country, and indeed right around the world. But I rise today to speak of unity and love. In the last four days I have attended a number of gatherings, ceremonies and events involving our wonderful Islamic community at, among others, Gungahlin mosque and the Canberra Islamic Centre at Monash.
On Friday I was overcome with grief and with anger at this incomprehensible evil. I just could not get my head around it then and I still cannot get my head around it. It is impossible to comprehend that level of intolerance and that level of hate. But on Sunday and last night I was equally overcome by much more positive emotions. It is remarkable that a dastardly act that was supposed to spread hate, a dastardly act that was supposed to divide us, has done the exact opposite. At Gungahlin and at Monash I could not feel any hate. I could feel immense sadness. But overwhelmingly I could feel unity and I could feel courage.
I think my message to the Islamic community here in the ACT would be this: please, do not be afraid. We are standing with you. We all share some of your pain. Find courage in the unity of your community, find courage in your faith and find courage in how much closer this horrible event has brought us. We must stand even closer together from here on.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
MADAM SPEAKER: With indulgence, to our representatives from New Zealand and Mohammed Ali, you have heard our hearts and prayers. Our strength and resolve are with you all. Thank you.
Petitions
The following petitions were lodged for presentation:
Restoration of the tree canopy—petition 1-19
By Ms Le Couteur, from 988 residents:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video