Senator Lidia Thorpe will move an amendment to Labor’s censure motion against Senator Pauline Hanson today, calling on the Government to urgently commit to implementing the National Anti-Racism Framework in full.

While condemning Senator Pauline Hanson’s recent comments about Muslim people, Senator Thorpe said Labor’s motion is not a genuine effort to tackle racism, but a political stunt designed to wedge the Coalition and disrupt their preference negotiations with One Nation in the Farrer by-election.

Thorpe’s amendment calls for the government to “commit to implementing the National Anti-Racism Framework in full as a matter of urgency, because tackling racism requires more than words of condemnation, it requires action.”

More than 15 months after receiving the Framework, the Government has failed to formally respond or implement a single recommendation.

Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:

"Hanson’s comments about Muslim people were racist comments. That is plain to see. I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters. This constant racism and vilification must stop.

"But Labor’s censure motion is not about taking a real stand against racism. It’s a cynical wedge designed to influence the Farrer by-election and disrupt preference negotiations between the Coalition and One Nation.

"It is just cheap politics, and it is insulting to all of us who experience racism on a daily basis.

"If Labor were serious about tackling racism, they would be implementing the National Anti-Racism Framework, not letting it gather dust.

"The Framework provides a clear, evidence-based roadmap to tackle racism and white supremacist extremism. It’s practical and ready to go, but Labor is still ignoring it.

"At a time when we’ve seen threats against Lakemba Mosque, attacks on Camp Sovereignty, the Boorloo terrorist bombing of Aboriginal people, and planned attacks on mosques in WA, this government is sitting on solutions. Their inaction is indefensible.

"This government only sees racism as a political opportunity for themselves, not as a real threat to real people. They just speak about it when they see something to gain, like they do today, but they take no real action to tackle it.

"All this Labor motion will do is give Senator Hanson more airtime to spread racism, while Labor avoids scrutiny for its own inaction.

"My amendment is a wedge too, but it’s a wedge that points to real, practical solutions. It's a sad state of affairs that this do-nothing government can be wedged simply by offering them solutions.

"If Labor votes it down, that will show exactly how serious they are about tackling racism."