Additional comments by Australian Labor Party
In 2016, Labor proposed a revised
version of the Parliamentarians’ Code of Race and Cultural Ethics:
As a member of the
Australian Federal Parliament I agree:
- To act in a manner which upholds the honour of public office and
the Parliament;
- To respect the religious and cultural beliefs of all groups
living within Australia in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights;
- To uphold principles of justice and tolerance within our
multicultural society making efforts to generate understanding of all minority
groups;
- To recognise and value diversity as an integral part of
Australia’s social and economic future;
- To help without discrimination all persons seeking assistance;
- To speak and write in a manner which provides factual commentary
on a foundation of truth about all issues being debated in the community and
the Parliament;
- To encourage the partnership of government and non-government
organisations in leading constructive and informed debate in the community;
- To
recognise the significance of Indigenous culture and to promote reconciliation
with and constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.
All members of Labor’s caucus have voluntarily signed the
Parliamentarians’ Code of Race and Cultural Ethics. Despite the invitation to
other senators and members to join Labor in signing this code, none have.
In March 2019, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Shorten,
wrote to the Prime Minister, Mr Morrison, with a copy of the code, requesting
that he join with Labor to make an important symbolic statement – to
acknowledge that we, as parliamentarians, have a responsibility to take care
with our words and actions. To have both major parties sign the code would send
an important message – we will not stand for racist or bigoted attitudes within
our Parliament.
Disappointingly, Mr Morrison is yet to even commit to
putting the code to his own joint party room, or say that he himself will sign.
Mr Morrison’s silence on this matter is mystifying. It should be a simple
matter, requiring leadership from the leader of the nation on this important
issue. It is time to take a more positive step.
Labor senators believe voluntarily signing the
Parliamentarians’ Code of Race and Cultural Ethics is the best way to demonstrate
a commitment to a set of standards that the Australian public expect their
parliamentarians to abide by on matters of race and culture. It is time for
leaders to unite in condemning the hateful and divisive rhetoric of those who
seek to stoke racism and other forms of bigotry for political ends – not just
with our words, but with our actions too.
To have senators and members from across the Parliament as
signatories to this code would send an unmistakable message to the Australian
community that its representatives completely reject any form of division or
discrimination on the grounds of race or religion. It is what the people of
Australia expect us to do.
Following Senator Hanson’s return to the Parliament in 2016,
all members of the Labor Caucus signed the code, modelled on an earlier version
put to the Parliament in 1998 by Labor senator Margaret Reynolds, after Ms
Hanson was first elected to the House of Representatives. The original code was
in response to a climate of heightened racial anxiety, division and
misinformation at the time. The 1998 Code of Race Ethics was signed by more
than half the Parliament, including coalition senators and members.
Despite an invitation by Mr Shorten to then-prime minister
Malcolm Turnbull, to put the updated code to his joint party room in 2016,
regrettably no commitment was demonstrated by the Liberal and National parties.
Now is the time for Liberals and Nationals to change their minds. Now is the
time for Mr Morrison to show some leadership to put a stop to bigotry.
The invitation to all senators and members to sign the
Parliamentarians’ Code of Race and Cultural Ethics remains open.
Senator Sue Lines
Senator the Hon Penny
Wong
Senator Catryna Bilyk
Senator Deborah O'Neill
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