Embedded Files
CEPA's request to ACT Parties
CEPA's request to ACT Parties
The following email was sent to ACT Greens, ACT Labor and Canberra Liberals on 11 September 2024:
I am writing on behalf of Community Engagement and Political Advocacy (CEPA), a newly formed organisation which aims to educate and engage the ACT Muslim community on the issues that matter most to them. More information about CEPA can be found here:
We are writing to you as the leader of the ACT Greens, however you are welcome to direct this request to the appropriate person or team.
We are currently producing resources to inform the community on candidates’ stances on key issues prior to the ACT elections on 19 October.
Based on our engagement with the community so far, these issues include:
1. Australia’s role and position with respect to Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza;
2. Rising Islamophobia, racism and discrimination in Australian society; and
3. Freedom of religion and support for religious institutions.
We wish to give you an opportunity to inform our research in regard to the three topics above by alerting us to anything that may be relevant in assisting the Muslim community to understand your party's position. For instance, for each issue, you may wish to point us towards any statements made in the Legislative Assembly, policies, media releases, interviews, correspondence, and any other material that you consider to be relevant and informative.
We would appreciate a reply by COB Friday, 13 September 2024 to give us sufficient time to consider and collate this material.
Please also indicate if you or representatives of your party will be interested in participating in a forum with the Muslim community in late September.
Please reply by email if you have any questions regarding this request or wish to request further time to respond.
Kind regards
CEPA Team
Canberra Liberal's Response
Canberra Liberal's Response
From Peter Cain's office on 12 September
Good afternoon CEPA team,
Thank you for your email and for reaching out to the Canberra Liberals. Please note that your message has been passed on to Peter Cain for his consideration in his capacity as Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
As you may know, Peter has been heavily involved in the ACT Muslim community by meeting with community leaders and attending events since assuming the multicultural affairs shadow portfolio, which is why Peter is happy to see the emergence of an organisation seeking to further engage the ACT Muslim community with ACT politics.
In response to the issues you have posed, we are not in a position to provide substantial answers due to the limited turnaround on your deadline of COB tomorrow.
However, to provide you in-summary answers:
The Canberra Liberals agree with the position of the Australian Government in supporting Israel’s right to defend its citizens. However, it is important that we continue to advocate for the adherence to the international rule of law during this conflict. We acknowledge and respect that there are many views in our ACT community on this issue.
The Canberra Liberals vehemently oppose Islamophobia, racism and discrimination in Australian society. There is no place for these practices in modern Canberra.
The Canberra Liberals believe in the basic freedoms of thought, of worship, of speech, of association, of choice, to be independent and to achieve. We have always, and will continue to, advocate for these basic freedoms and for institutions that wish to operate.
In terms of further research, we would point in the direction of the Hansard and Video On-Demand on the ACT Legislative Assembly website to read and watch debates on topics most important to you.
In terms of participating in an election forum, Peter would be than happy to in principle, though this would depend on the exact date/time and approval from the party administration.
We hope this information has been of use to you and please feel free to stay in touch for anything else Peter can support you with as Shadow Multicultural Affairs Minister.
Kind regards,
ACT Greens' Response
ACT Greens' Response
From Andrew Braddock's office on 13 September
Dear CEPA Team,
Thank you very much for reaching out to the ACT Greens about these critical issues the Muslim community are concerned by.
I have attached a document [pasted below] which outlines our positions on these three key issues, along with the action we’ve taken to address them in the community and in the ACT Government. If there is anything you would like us to clarify, please let me know and I will be happy to help.
We look forward to engaging further with CEPA.
Kind regards,
ACT Greens Detailed Response
ACT Greens Detailed Response
Community Engagement and Political Advocacy (CEPA) - ACT Muslim Community
Community Engagement and Political Advocacy (CEPA) - ACT Muslim Community
Thank you for this opportunity to provide information to the ACT Muslim community via CEPA. On behalf of the ACT Greens, we warmly welcome this opportunity for better connection and dialogue with our local Muslim community.
The ACT Greens, as part of the Australian Greens, are deeply committed to helping achieve a peaceful, prosperous and joyful community that celebrates and more importantly actively supports diversity and freedom of cultural and religious expression.
The ACT Greens recognise that for many people in the Muslim community, Islamophobia has made politics an unwelcoming environment for decades.
We know from our engagement with the Canberra Muslim community specifically, that many people don’t feel represented by politicians and that is something we want to change. This change must occur across local and Australian politics broadly, but we recognise that as a party we ourselves must demonstrate the change and representation we want to see. This means ensuring our party is as welcoming as it can be, and creating a dialogue with Muslim Canberrans to listen, identify shared values and a positive vision for our community, and engage respectfully and work through differences to find positive resolutions.
The shared anger, sorrow and distress because of the genocide in Gaza in particular, has brought many communities together as we all call for the atrocities to end, a free Palestine, and an end to Israeli apartheid. Standing with and supporting the local Muslim community in highlighting the genocide in Gaza has been a period of deep solidarity and reflection for the ACT Greens, and an important demonstration of what we mean when we say “think globally, act locally”, as well as our commitments to peace and human rights.
It has also been the impetus for us to reflect that we could do better in engaging with our local Muslim community more broadly.
That is why on the 10th of August, the ACT Greens hosted a dinner with leaders of the Islamic and Palestinian communities to understand the issues they are experiencing and how we can ensure the wider community is supported. We hope this marks the beginning of meaningful, long term engagement and friendship between the ACT Greens and the Muslim community.
Australia’s role and position with respect to Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza
The Greens oppose the genocide in Gaza and broader war crimes and human rights violations perpetuated against the Palestinian people in the strongest possible terms. We believe every parliament, every party and every civil institution has a responsibility to speak out against the actions of the state of Israel and bring every lawful persuasion to secure a lasting peace.
We support an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and a fair negotiated peace in Gaza to bring this genocide to an end. We support an end to the apartheid system and all other discriminatory practices in place against Palestinians, and an end to the occupation and all illegal Israeli settlements within these territories. All Palestinians should have the right to return to their homeland if they choose to do so, and to compensation if they decide to stay in their new homes elsewhere. We must support and welcome those who choose to make Canberra and Australia home.
We believe that the Australian government is not only failing to put pressure on the State of Israel to end this genocide and occupation but is in fact complicit based on its actions. Australia must end all weapon and weapon-part exports to Israel, support South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice, expel the Israeli Ambassador, sanction the Israeli cabinet, and recognise the State of Palestine.
While much of this relates to federal responsibilities, we see it as the duty of local representatives at all levels to actively support these measurers and oppose the genocide.
We additionally strongly oppose the ACT government’s investment in companies listed by the United Nations as being complicit in the occupation and illegal settlements in Palestine, as well as weapons companies complicit in the genocide in Gaza.
The ACT Greens work with respect to Palestine is guided by the Australian Greens resolution which you can read here. The Greens around the country have stood in solidarity with the community protesting the Gazan genocide, and we have worked closely with the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network to amplify and support local protests, solidarity events, and more in response to the genocide in Gaza. Locally every ACT elected MLA has attended the weekly protests and vigils for Gaza, taking it in turns to ensure the ACT Greens have always been present in solidarity.
Activity in the Assembly on Gaza led by the Greens:
On the 7th of February Andrew Braddock for the ACT Greens moved a motion in the Assembly which called on the Act Government to divest from 9 companies listed by the United Nations as complicit in human rights violations being committed against Palestinians by the State of Israel. The motion included a commitment by the ACT Government to progress towards the ACT becoming an Apartheid Free Zone. This was removed in the amendment proposed by the Chief Minister. Following this, the ACT Greens provided an additional amendment that noted “this escalating conflict has occurred in the context of ongoing occupation of the Palestinian Territories, construction of illegal settlements, apartheid, and displacement of the Palestinian people”.
In the debate, the following was expressed:
“The Greens do not support the removal of the references to apartheid in Palestine. This is a very real situation—a separation wall, not unlike the infamous Berlin wall—and it is constructed by Israel, run through the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinians require special papers to travel and they are constrained in where they can live, where they can work, what medical services they can access and even where they can go to school. Israeli security tends to shoot first and ask questions later when dealing with Palestinians.
If we in this Assembly do not recognise this as apartheid, it should be considered that this is what has been concluded by South Africa, a nation with the closest experience of apartheid in this world, as well as other organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists. This is the lived reality of the Palestinians”.
The amendment proposed by the ACT Greens was defeated 19 to 6, with all members of the ACT Greens voting for the amendment, and all members of the Canberra Liberals and ACT Labors voting against the amendment. You can read our motion calling for divestment here - 07/02/2024 – Hansard (pages 163-183) – Private Member’s Motion on Divestment
We appreciate that many members of the community would not have had the opportunity and might like to read the advocacy from ACT Greens MLAs on the matter of Gaza and in solidarity with the local Palestinian and Muslim communities. At the end of this document, we have provided some links to speeches, media and other work by the ACT Greens to highlight the genocide and treatment of the Palestinian people, with a short explanation of what they were about.
Rising Islamophobia, racism and discrimination in Australian society
The Greens believe that Australia's cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity should be celebrated for greatly enriching our communities and economy, and this diversity is enhanced by the immigration of people to Australia. We believe that that human rights are universal and must be respected and protected for everyone.
The Greens have therefore for many years recognised that Islamophobia, racism, and discrimination has had a deeply harmful impact on Muslim Australians and our broader community, and it is completely unacceptable in a proudly multicultural society.
We have also recognised and publicly denounced the tolerance for Islamophobia and scapegoating of the Muslim community that has been a shameful feature of national political discourse, beginning with the Australian Government’s support for the illegal invasion of Iraq in the 1990s, and response to the 9/11 attacks on the United States in 2001, and continuing now in response to the genocide in Gaza. We recognise that Islamophobia, racism and discrimination are frequently weaponised in our community to foster intolerance and prejudice towards refugees and other migrant Muslim communities with inflammatory rhetoric.
Australian Greens Deputy Leader Mehreen Faruqi has given personal testimony and voice to the experience of many Muslim Australians, that particularly sees the Islamophobic and racist targeting of women and children. You can find an example of her public statements on the rise and harm caused by Islamophobia here. As a party the Greens unequivocally accept the data showing that Islamophobia and racism has increased in Australian society and believe that we have a responsibility to address it. The ACT is a Human Rights jurisdiction with strong protections against racial and religious vilification and a formal complaints mechanism, all of which the Greens strongly support. We would welcome insight from CEPA on whether Muslim Canberrans are aware of and feel confident to take experiences of discrimination to the Human Rights Commission, and we will be seeking data from them regarding trends in the number of complaints relating to experiences of Islamophobia and racism.
Recent efforts by the ACT Greens have focused on the rise of racism and Islamophobia in response to the genocide in Gaza and there are some links on this below.
24/10/2023 – Hansard (pages 3249-3250) – Question without Notice on anti-racism in context of Gaza.
05/06/2024 – Hansard (pages 1452-1453) – Adjournment speech on discussion of Gaza in schools/anti-Palestinian racism
28/08/2024 – Hansard (pages 2149-2150) – Questions on policing in regard to rising racism and islamophobia
We also recognise that we need to actively create safe and inclusive spaces for Muslim members of our community that respect cultural and religious differences. For example, in 2022 we spoke to the Canberra Multicultural Forum and moved a motion to call for allocated swimming times at public pools so that Muslim women and women from diverse cultural backgrounds could learn to swim in a safe environment. We understand that for many people in refugee and culturally diverse communities, policies like this are important to mitigate the reality that public spaces that are not designed in an inclusive way for Muslim people.
We would welcome a dialogue with CEPA on what other practical and meaningful steps the ACT government can take to tackle Islamophobia and racism and collectively achieve a safe, respectful and inclusive community.
Freedom of religion and support for religious institutions.
3/09/2024 – Hansard (page 2392) – Question without Notice on religious education in public schools
The ACT Greens understand that the Muslim community want to be able to practice their faith, and pass on Islamic teachings to their children. Under the ACT Education Act, all students have the right to receive religious education alongside their studies in public schools. We know how important it is for students to be accepted for their diverse identities, and providing Islamic studies at school is one way that Muslim families can proudly participate in public education while practicing their faith and sharing it with their children.
We have met with the Canberra Islamic Centre (CIC) and the Canberra Islamic School to understand the barriers they face with providing religious education in public schools and how we can assist in making the process smoother. We applaud the work done by Azra Kahn from the CIC, who has pioneered this space by approaching schools individually and implementing Islamic scripture studies, with the help of parents and other individuals who volunteer as scripture teachers. This shows how committed the community is to ensuring Muslim children can maintain their religious and cultural beliefs without fear of discrimination. The Greens want to support the Muslim community
However, we acknowledge that there have been numerous issues with schools not understanding their obligations under the Education Act, or not being proactive in supporting its implementation. To address this issue, we requested a briefing with the Minister of Education and voiced our concerns to the education directorate about these barriers. They have assured us that they are positioned and willing to help with guiding the implementation of this policy in the ACT. We will continue to work with the Muslim community and the incoming minister for education in the next term to ensure continued improvement on this process and support for all the efforts made to date.
The ACT Greens acknowledge that Canberra’s Muslim community continues to grow, and there aren’t enough spaces for prayer and other ongoing activities that benefit from permanency (for example the Canberra Islamic School). We have consistently supported the direct sale of blocks next to the Gungahlin Mosque to accommodate its growing community. Unfortunately, that block was not secured by government processes. We will continue to support increasing land made available to community groups and religious groups to ensure everyone has a place to practice their faith and come together as a community.
The ACT Greens strongly support the protection of human rights for minority groups. This includes faith-based groups who bring great value to the ACT community through creation of spiritual, community, and practical connections between Canberrans, to their individual and collective benefit. We therefore fully support the freedom of religion and support for religious institutions.
It must be acknowledged that there can be instances where these rights come into conflict with the human rights of another minority group/s. As a party we aim to support the protection of the human rights of both minority groups. We believe this can be achieved through assisting the two communities to come together for meaningful and constructive discussions so as to come to a consensus position. This is to prevent the rights of one particular minority group over riding or negating the rights of the other minority group. We fully appreciate this can be a challenging and difficult process, but we are of the view this is the best way to achieve an inclusive society.
Hansard, Media, and Engagement
Hansard, Media, and Engagement
We understand that most people won’t be watching the every-day activities in the ACT Legislative Assembly or reading the Hansard. For those that are interested, we have compiled a list of relevant activity the ACT Greens have led to address the genocide in Gaza, our government's complicity through investments, and rising Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism. Some of the more recent links may change as the Hansard is edited. Please reach out if that occurs, and we will send you the updated links.
19/03/2024 – Hansard (page 390) – 90 second Statement on the cancellation of an Iftar in solidarity with Palestine
20/03/2024 – Hansard (pages 486-487) – Adjournment Speech on the cancellation of Gaza Press at the Multicultural Festival
20/03/2024 – Question on Notice – On who are the members of the Government Investment Advisory Board (relevant to Feb 7 motion)
09/04/2024 – Hansard (page 606) – Re-reflection on Gaza Press in response to Ministerial Statement on Multicultural Festival
09/04/2024 – Hansard (pages 702-703) – 90 second Statement on the bombing of the World Central Kitchen convoy
15/05/2024 – Hansard proof (page 1087) – 90 second Statement on the invasion of Rafah
16/05/2024 – Question on Notice – Government’s involvement in an ANU Defence Symposium
05/06/2024 – Question on Notice - Question on guidance provided to schools to support teachers when Gaza is discussed (now overdue)
09/08/2024 - Palestine Petition - Andrew Braddock sponsored a petition on behalf of some of the Palestinian community, calling for the ACT Government to go further on divestment, and ensures that this will be reviewed by a committee in the incoming term of government
27/08/2024 – Hansard (pages 1975-1976) – Statement on Gaza, tabling petition calling on the ACT Government to divest from apartheid and genocide
29/08/2024 – Hansard (pages 2310-2313) – Vassarotti and Braddock responding to the Treasurer’s response to the Greens divestment motion
4/09/2024 – Hansard (page 2512) – Question without notice on government investments/Palestine
Media and Engagement on Gaza
07/12/2023 - School strike for Palestine – Andrew, Rebecca and Laura join students striking for Palestine
07/02/2024 - Speech in the chamber– Minister Vassarotti speaks on the genocide in Gaza
13/03/2024 - Speech at rally – Laura speaks in solidarity with Antoinette Lattouf
13/04/2024 - Speech at rally – Minister Davidson speaking at Garema Place rally for Gaza
13/05/2024 - Speech at rally – Minister Davidson speaking at weekly rally
15/05/2024 – Nakba – ACT Greens joined the community on Nakba day outside parliament to continue to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza
17/05/2024 – Statement on ANU encampment – Andrew does an interview with WINN news expressing solidarity with students protesting for Gaza
18/05/2024 - Speech at rally – Minister Rattenbury speaking at ANU rally for Gaza
27/05/2024 - Statement of support – Minister Davidson visits the ANU encampment
27/05/2024 - ANU Encampment protest – ACT greens stand in solidarity with students protesting for BDS
28/05/2024 - Speech at rally – Minister Davidson speaking at an ANU Rally for Gaza
30/05/2024 – Open letter to ANU Vice Chancellor Bell - Shane Rattenbury calls on the ANU to engage with the demands of the students, uphold the right to free speech and peaceful protest, and renewed calls on the ANU to disclose and divest.
22/06/2024 - Speech at rally – Laura speaks at an ANU rally for Palestine
05/07/2024 - Speech at rally – Laura speaks at weekly rally for Palestine
22/07/2024 - ANU Submission - made a submission to the ANU, recommending they amend their Socially Responsible investment Policy to comply with international human rights obligations
30/07/2024 – Media release – Greens continue to challenge the Chief Minister to divest from companies profiting from genocide in Palestine
16/08/2024 – Open letter to the Chief Minister – Andrew calls on the government to ensure the ACT is apartheid free
29/08/2024 – Media release – Labor treasurer refuses to divest from Israeli apartheid
29/08/2024 – Vigil for Gaza - ACT Greens hosted a vigil for Gaza outside the Legislative Assembly with Palestinian speakers.
6/09/2024 – Interview with the Australian Muslim Times - Greens sponsored Palestine petition tabled in ACT
6/09/2024 – Post – Statement and photo to express solidarity with Palestinians and pride to wear the keffiyeh (after Rebecca Vassarotti was asked to remove it in the chamber, video available here)
ACT Labor's Response
ACT Labor's Response
From ACT Labor's info mail account on 25 September
1. Australia’s role and position with respect to Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza;
Australia’s role and position with regards to Palestine remains the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government, who have overall responsibility under the Constitution for foreign policy.
Notwithstanding, ACT Labor remains extremely distressed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and remains deeply concerned about the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza.
ACT Labor has called on the Federal Government to support the survival and the human rights of Palestinian children, women and men including calling for a ceasefire and resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid.
ACT Labor urges all sides to show restraint and prioritise humanitarian assistance.
ACT Labor recognises the deep distress that the events in the Middle East have caused members of the Canberra multicultural community, and remains committed to championing respect and providing ongoing support to the multicultural community.
ACT Labor urges all in our community to remain respectful and compassionate, and we strongly condemn anyone who incites intolerance, violence and hatred within our Canberra community.
2. Rising Islamophobia, racism and discrimination in Australian society; and
ACT Labor abhors any discrimination, including racism and islamophobia.
ACT Labor upholds the rights of all Canberrans to equal participation in every aspect of our communal life.
ACT Labor recognises the importance of multiculturalism and the significant value Canberra’s growing cultural diversity contributes to our community.
ACT Labor enacted the Multicultural Recognition Act, which establishes a multicultural charter, enshrines in legislation the existing Multicultural Advisory Council, and establishes reporting obligations across Government for the purpose of advancing multiculturalism.
This also requires the Minister for Multicultural Affairs to table an Annual Ministerial Statement on Multiculturalism in the Legislative Assembly.
Under ACT Labor, Canberra proudly became the second city in Australia to be awarded ‘Advanced’ level accreditation against the Welcoming Cities standard.
Under ACT Labor, the ACT Government will continue to undertake a raft of initiatives advancing engagement with and providing support to the multicultural community, such as ACT Policing’s Multicultural Liaison Officer network, the ACT Government’s Anti-Racism Working Group, and the Work Experience and Support Program (WESP).
Under ACT Labor, the National Multicultural Festival continues to grow as a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, with the 2024 festival breaking attendance records with around 420,000 visitors, and is a demonstration of multiculturalism at its finest.
ACT Labor remains committed to eliminating racism and discrimination, including Islamophobia, and will continue to strengthen anti-racism and discrimination policy and legal frameworks.
3. Freedom of religion and support for religious institutions.
ACT Labor upholds the right of all members of the Canberra community to the freedom of religion, and supports and encourages all to practice and maintain their spiritual and cultural beliefs, subject to Australian law.
ACT Labor continues to safeguard the right to practice ones faith free of any harassment or discrimination.
ACT Labor recognises that religious institutions play an important role in enhancing community cohesion and supporting vulnerable members of the community.
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