"whether we need another mandela to stop racism
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I would also like to thank Dr Rametse and his team for their amazing work organising this important event. I know through numerous communications with my office, they have worked tirelessly to make this event come together tonight.
I would especially like to recognise the remarkable work the NMDCC does establishing and bringing together communities; local, state and federal government and non-government agencies in Victoria in a range of activities to not only honour and celebrate Nelson Mandela’s legacy, but also to answer the global call to action to remind each and every one of us of the power that we have to affect positive change in the world.
I am very honoured to be the guest speaker at this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) event.
We cannot let the day pass without reflecting on the horrific tragedy in Christchurch. Many of us would be left with the shock and enormous sorrow at the loss of so many innocent lives last Friday.
I want to again offer my sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims and the families in Christchurch. The community there will need much support and comfort in the days, weeks and months ahead. I and the Commission stand in unity, solidarity and in grief with them and the people of New Zealand and with the Muslim and wider community here in Australia.
At the Commission’s meeting on 21 March, I moved a motion to express our sorrow and solidarity, which the Commission adopted:
Commissioner Tan proposed a special motion to honour and remember the victims of the recent terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. Commissioner Tan spoke for the Commission as a whole in expressing its deep condolences to those affected. The Commission stands in solidarity and unity with the Muslim community and wider community in New Zealand and Australia, and remains resolutely committed to upholding the values of acceptance, respect, harmony, unity and inclusion. Commissioner Tan also stated that the tragedy in Christchurch is another reminder of the lesson that there is no place for racial or religious bigotry, prejudice, discrimination or hatred in our society.
I have met with the Muslim community recently and offered my support and to hear from them – including attending and speaking at the public Vigil held in Melbourne on Monday, as well as attending prayers with the Muslim community at Lakemba Mosque yesterday.
This terrible event was a stark reminder that we must all remain vigilant against the resurgence of far-right and extremist activity and against threats to our multicultural harmony.
In the wake of the Christchurch tragedy, I have on 21 March at the Commission’s ceremony to celebrate Harmony Day announced a series of national consultations with the Muslim community in Australia about their experiences of hate, violence and negative public commentary.
I want to hear their voices, concerns and their experiences so that we can act to do everything in our power to help prevent us having our own Christchurch tragedy.
Already in Victoria and in NSW I have heard concerns about the dangers of hate speech and the need for our community and elected leaders to act responsibly in preventing the spread of hate languages and fear rhetoric. But there was also a call for greater unity and greater efforts to strengthen our multicultural society.
It is important that I am in touch with and to ensure that I am hearing from Muslims across the country. By really listening, I and the Commission will be working towards practical measures to put forward to act to ensure that we protect our social harmony and wonderful multicultural society and to keep the Muslim community and the wider community safe from racial hatred and from racial violence.
I would like to begin my speech today with a famous quote from the late great Nelson Mandela:
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
This is a powerful message to consider, especially tonight as we celebrate IDERD, and reflect on the significance of this day in the shadow of the aftermath of the Christchurch tragedy. Tonight I would also like to particularly recognise and celebrate the resilience and achievements of African migrants and refugees in Australia, issues often conveniently ignored and forgotten in mainstream narratives of Africanness in Australia.
I would also like to acknowledge that today we celebrate IDERD in the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) the theme of which: People of African descent: recognition, justice and development is also powerful.