Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (14:13): Over the weekend we once again heard distressing reports about far-right extremists threatening and intimidating our communities. In the border town of Corowa neo-Nazis, including Victorians with a history of this type of racist extremism, paraded through the streets with signs that read ‘White man fight back’. We also heard on the weekend about a serving member of Victoria Police using a now outlawed gesture that symbolises Nazism at the state’s police academy. This officer is said to have served the police force for over 40 years.

For years the Greens have been sounding the alarm on the rise of far-right extremism in this state and across the country. We initiated a parliamentary inquiry to look at how to counter this threat of far-right extremism, which was opposed by the Liberals and Nationals at the time. The government delayed responding to the findings of the inquiry, and now, nearly two years on, we have had no demonstration that the government is taking this threat seriously.

Taking this threat seriously is doing and funding the things we know can inoculate our communities from these threats and keep us safe. It involves doing the work of anti-racism. Three years since the consultation we still do not have our anti-racism strategy. We need dedicated community-building and social connection programs that build the bonds of trust and cohesion between people in the community and break down fears, stereotypes and distance between people.

We have all the warning signs in our society of a community that could move to the margins of extremism because the systems that should be supporting them to build good lives and strong communities are crumbling beneath their feet. People in this government may not know the fear of racist targeting, but many of us do. If you are serious about social cohesion, implement and fund all the recommendations of the inquiry with urgency.