By Andrew Charlton MP
This week, the Liberal Party crossed a line. Senator Jacinta Price, a senior Liberal figure and Member of Parliament, said: “There is a concern with the Indian community, and only because there’s been large numbers, and we can see that reflected in the way the community votes for Labor.”
Her remarks went further, suggesting that the Indian community is here to collect welfare payments, and that Labor welcomes them for political gain. These comments were not condemned by the Leader of the Liberal Party, Susan Ley. The silence spoke volumes.
These claims are not only offensive, they are false. The Indian community is one of the most successful migrant groups in Australia. More than half of Indian Australians hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and around 85 per cent are in the workforce — well above the national average. They are among the most highly educated and highly employed groups in the country. They are doctors, engineers, teachers, small business owners, carers, scientists and innovators. Their contributions enrich our economy and strengthen our communities every single day.
To suggest otherwise is an outrageous slur. It undermines the very fabric of our multicultural society.
In my community of Parramatta, where Indian Australians are an integral part of our story, the contribution of this diaspora is impossible to miss. They build businesses that create jobs. They volunteer in schools, temples, churches, mosques and sporting clubs. They bring colour, vibrancy and diversity to our streets. To them I say this: you are welcome, you are valued, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do.
I feel terrible that Indian Australians are receiving such a damaging message. They deserve to know that these views are not shared by the vast majority of Australians. We saw this again with the recent rally on Sunday, a rally that promoted division and exclusion. It did not reflect the views of most Australians. That is why Labor supported a motion in the Senate, calling on all parties to condemn racism and stand firmly against such displays of intolerance. The Liberals voted against it.
Taken together, a disturbing trend is emerging: a major political party in this country is drifting further towards extremism, targeting minority communities and attacking multiculturalism itself.
This is not who we are as Australians. The vast majority of Australians, across all backgrounds, understand that our diversity is a source of strength. We know that multiculturalism is not something to fear or undermine, but something to protect and cherish.
What the Liberal Party is doing is dangerous. It is divisive. And it is not the leadership Australia wants or deserves.
Now is the time for all fair-minded Australians to stand up. To defend multiculturalism. To support the communities that have given so much to our country. And to send a clear message: there is no place for racism in our politics, or in our future.
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