Page 1526 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 14 May 2019
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Sri Lanka of course is a country recovering from the brutal effects of almost three decades of war and ethnic hostilities. Although a number of cultures and religions have long co-existed, the underlying religious tensions mean that Christian and Hindu minorities still feel unaccepted in many parts of Sri Lanka.
In contrast, we are so lucky here in Australia to be part of a rich and diverse multicultural society, a place where people have the right to celebrate and express their cultural heritage within universally accepted human rights. We would like to see a peaceful future in Sri Lanka where all ethnic groups living in Sri Lanka can enjoy political, economic, social and cultural freedom. These bombings are the antithesis of that, designed to spread fear and division among peoples.
Just two months ago we stood here in this place to express our sympathies and condolences to those 50 people who died in the Christchurch massacres in New Zealand. It seems that violence and brutality know no borders when it comes to such acts of terrorism. Whether it be attacks on Christians in prayer, Muslims in prayer, Buddhists in prayer or Jews in prayer, it is wrong. It is unjust and it is tragic. No amount of killing or bombing justifies more deaths and bombings.
It was disappointing to see various statements that tried to justify the Sri Lankan bombings as a just response to the attacks at the mosques in Christchurch. The sad fact is that people caught up in the middle of other people’s extreme religious wars are innocent civilians, innocent people getting on with their daily lives. War should not beget war; it cannot beget more war.
We need to join forces with those who will work towards peace, work towards understanding and work towards acceptance. Political leaders from all parties and religious leaders from all faiths need to speak out against these violent actions and against the hatred, division and intolerance that underwrite them. Only when our societies truly tolerate and accept each other for who they are, for what they believe and for what they practise, will we all be stronger and safer.
Like the Chief Minister and Mr Coe, I would like to acknowledge the local acts of solidarity that have taken place here in Canberra, organised by the local community. I attended the ceremony on 23 April at St Christopher’s Cathedral in Manuka. I sat next to Mrs Jones. It was tremendous to see the community come together. There were a number of other political leaders there from the federal sphere and it was a very emotional service but one of multi faiths where many people came together to pay their respects and to stand in solidarity with the Sri Lankan community. I thank the people who organised that event.
We stand together today with other members in this place to grieve in solidarity with the families who have lost loved ones, with the people of Sri Lanka and with the Sri Lankan community here in Canberra. We offer our support to members of the Australian-Sri Lankan community during their time of loss and grief and vow to continue to fight for peace, tolerance and acceptance.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
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