Thursday,15 August 2024

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:16): The planned attacks on the Taylor Swift concerts in Austria were another chilling reminder of the continued radicalisation we are seeing of young men online, and it is a problem that we need to take very seriously here as well. Violent extremism, fuelled by a hatred of women, a hatred of people of colour and a hatred of queer people, is putting these communities at risk. We heard from ASIO earlier this year that hate groups want to start a race war here in Australia, and we have seen white supremacists brazenly parading disgusting banners through our streets – things like ‘Australia for the white man’. Groups have targeted queer events and forced the cancellation of rainbow family events and other LGBTIQA+ occasions. Vile misogynists are idolised by young men online, fuelling toxic attitudes that put women in danger. Labor needs to take action to combat this lurch towards dangerous right-wing extremism. Without meaningful and urgent action the community remains at risk.