COMMITTEES

Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (17:35): I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the review of the listing of White Australia as a prohibited hate group under the Criminal Code. I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I want to make it clear to the Senate that the review was conducted under section 114A.9 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, following the making of the regulations made in May this year, specifying White Australia as a prohibited hate group.

It was the second such use of the framework for prohibited hate groups following the earlier listing of Hizb ut-Tahrir in March of this year. As senators will recall, this parliament was recalled back in January to deal with the framework that set up the listing of such hate groups following the antisemitic terrorist attack towards the Jewish community in December.

The committee approached this task with the gravity that it demanded following the recalling of the parliament back in January. We rigorously scrutinised the material before us as a committee, including a very detailed statement of reasons from the government, and heard from a wide range of stakeholders. The committee also convened an in camera hearing to test the evidence with relevant government bodies to satisfy ourselves that the legislative criteria had been met and that the process was sound.

That was very important because we got to give to the Australian people the confidence that the government of the day has appropriately utilised its listing powers. The conclusion from the committee is absolutely clear. White Australia meets the legislative criteria for listing as a prohibited hate group, and the listing has been made properly.

The evidence is very, very clear that the organisation before the committee as part of its inquiry has repeatedly promoted racist and hateful propaganda about Jewish people, about Asians, about Muslims, about Indigenous Australians and about other migrant ethnicities. Its members have attacked lawful protests and displayed racist banners and the Nazi salute in public forums.

It does so for the purpose of demeaning and inciting hatred against our fellow Australians and these particular groups that I've just mentioned. It poses a direct threat to the safety and social cohesion of our multicultural society and our wonderful community. The committee is therefore satisfied that the listing is not only justified but necessary to protect Australians from such harm.

The days of organisations like White Australia, or should I call them Neo-Nazis, and Hizb ut-Tahrir operating freely in this country are over. We will not allow hate to be dressed up as political debate. Australia draws a very firm line.

Groups that incite hatred and that want to radicalise individuals and endanger lives have no place here in our country, Australia. The PJCIS supports wholeheartedly the listing of White Australia as a prohibited hate group under the Criminal Code and finds no reason to disallow this legislative instrument. On that note, I commend this report to the Senate.

I seek leave to continue my remarks. Leave granted; debate adjourned.