Hansard Daily: Legislative Assembly - Thursday, March 14 2024
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Commencement
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Bills
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Bills
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Bills
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It takes courage to share one's personal story; it is vulnerable, raw and honest. To do so when that story includes experiences of pain, grief, fear, anger and, as some have said, shame takes even greater courage. I thank those who did so as this should be italics part of the bill and earlier inquiry and I thank the many who have shared personal stories with me. I honour those voices, as our government does by bringing forward this legislation. I thank the members across this House who will support this important reform for doing likewise.
In particular, I want to acknowledge the [Cohesive Communities Coalition and particularly [Christine Castley and [Rita Jabri Markwell, who are in the gallery today, as cochairs of the coalition for their fearless and impassioned advocacy to see these reforms delivered. As the attorneygeneral said at introduction, these reforms are the direct result of the hard work and advocacy of multicultural community members and stakeholders from across Queensland. These reforms are yours and, while I wish they were not needed, I am honoured to have played a small part in bringing them about so that all in our community may feel safe, seen and valued. Of course, these laws will protect not only our multicultural community but also our LGBTIQ plus community. I acknowledge the many stakeholders and advocates who have equally called for these reforms from that community.
While the list is long, I want to read into Hansard the names of a number of dedicated stakeholders in acknowledgement of their contribution and input into this reform. Once passed, it will mean we have among the strongest frame works in the country. They are: Multicultural Australia, Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council, Queensland Law Society, Caxton Legal Centre, Legal Aid Queensland, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, LGBTI Legal Service, Settlement Services International Limited, Queensland Human Rights Commission, Access Community Services, Queensland Chinese Forum, Queensland Chinese United Council, Australian Muslim Advocacy Network, Queensland Council for LGBTI Health, Equality Australia, Queensland African Communities Council, Scarlet Alliance Australian Sex Workers Association, Respect Inc, Hindu Council of Australia, Islamic Council of Queensland, Islamic College of Brisbane, Islamic Society of Gold Coast, Islamic Women's Association of Australia, White Ribbon Australia, Gold Coast Sikh Association, Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia, Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, Rainbow Families Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Jewish Community Services Inc., Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, Pacific Islands Council of Queensland and Queensland Council for Civil Liberties.
I make particular mention of my Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council, made up of eleven amazing humans with a myriad of life experiences as culturally and linguistically diverse Queenslanders. When we had our first meeting in 2021, I asked them what they would like to achieve during their time on the council. Having a much greater input into government process was at the top of their list. Shortly after submissions opened for the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee's initial inquiry into serious vilification and hate crime, they jumped at the opportunity to make a submission. It was a pleasure to write the forward to that submission. I was then so proud to see some MQAC members given the opportunity to appear before the Committee.
I have taken a quote from their submission that sums up perfectly the importance of this bill and what it means to those in our community who are subject to serious vilification and hate crime. It states
While the Council is aware that racism cannot be tackled through legislative reform alone, it believes that strengthening the protections against serious vilification and hate speech represents a necessary and important step in making justice for its victims accessible and worthwhile.
I would also like to thank those officers who worked on the development of the bill, including Ernest Lin, Adam Savage, Jemma GoldingWallace, Michael Shears, Adele Bogard and Justin O'May. I once again thank all honourable members for their thoughtful and respectful considerations during the debate.
I conclude with a quote that featured in the foreword of the inquiry report by my friend and colleague the member for Toohey's and in his speech on this bill. He quoted Dr Martin Luther King who said
It may be true that morality cannot be legislated but behaviour can be regulated. It may be true that the law cannot change the heart but it can restrain the heartless.
I thank the member for Toohey for his leadership. I thank the member for Toohey for his passion in regard to this bill. I thank all members of his committee for the report that they produced in both occurrences. The law is a powerful instrument for social change and in that vein I commend the bill to the House.
Clauses 1 to 6, as read, agreed to. 3\
Clause 7 3\
Hon. LM LINAR (Nudgee—ALP) (Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation, Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation) (13:00:00): Dle Subject
