HOBSONS BAY: ‘Appalling racist comments’ – MP
Laverton MLA Sarah Connolly (pictured) says that she was witness to a slew of the most appalling racist commentary on her social media by people parroting messages.
“In my 43 years I have never seen anything like it. This included the racial vilification of students in grade six in one of my wonderful local schools in Truganina, because the picture of the class that I put up was not white enough for them,” Ms Connolly told Parliament.
“This stuff is sick, and I am going to be calling it out. It is un-Australian; it is not who we are and is most certainly not who we are in Melbourne’s west.
“Our Labor Government does not just tolerate multiculturalism, it celebrates it, including on Australia Day. It is coming together with your
community to celebrate the good in this country,” Ms Connolly said.
Ms Connolly said she had been at a Vietnamese event in the morning on Australia Day.
“I went to a Filipino event in the afternoon and I also went to a citizenship ceremony after
that, and that night I celebrated Lunar New Year with our wonderful community in Sunshine, as we do each and every single year.
“At all of these events people were happy and they were proud to celebrate Australia Day and the vibrant multicultural society that makes up modern-day Victoria and Australia, including me.
“They were proud to be Australian and part of our community. This year, more than previous years, there has been something of a cover over Australia Day celebrations – a more overt and nasty racism that has reared its head, particularly around this debate.”