SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: Thank you very much for coming this morning.
I stand here today to express our sorrow and our solidarity with the people of New Zealand. It is a very sad day.
I spoke to the New Zealand High Commissioner last night to express, not only on behalf of the Labor Party, but what I know is on behalf of the entire Australian community, our deep sadness at these horrific, tragic, violent events.
I also wish to speak to Australia's Muslim community. We know that today you are experiencing great pain and sorrow and I want to say that Australia stands with you. We stand with you and we stand against these acts of extremist violence.
Yesterday's events were horrific acts of violence. They were acts of terrorism and, at their core, they are acts of hatred. This man is an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist. He does not represent Australian values. He is not who we are.
I also want to make some comments about Fraser Anning's statement yesterday. It was shameful and it was appalling. It was the desperate attempt of a man who has never been elected to gain attention. So I say to the people of New Zealand, I say to all people, Mr Anning does not represent Australia, he does not represent our values, he does not represent who we are. But he does serve one purpose - he reminds us of how important it is that leaders - political, community, religious leaders everywhere - stand against hatred, because we saw tragically in the loss of life yesterday, the loss of mothers and fathers, and brothers and sisters, and children, we saw where this sort of hatred can lead. Extremist right-wing violent terrorist has demonstrated that to us.
(BREAK FOR TV CREWS TO FIX MICROPHONE)
WONG: Are we fixed up? Would you like me to do that again?
JOURNALIST: That would be wonderful, please.
WONG: I stand here today in solidarity and sorrow, expressing our solidarity and sorrow to the people of New Zealand for the horrific attacks, the dreadful, tragic, senseless loss of life we saw yesterday. And I again express to Australia's Muslim community, who I know today are feeling such pain, that we are with you. We understand and we are with you.
Yesterday's attack was an act of violence, it was an act of terrorism, and at its core, it was an act of hatred. And this right-wing, extremist, violent terrorist who has taken lives reminds us again of how important it is that all of us stand against hatred and for the values that both Australia and New Zealand share.
To the people of New Zealand, we regard you as family and today your Australian family grieves with you.
JOURNALIST: What briefings have you had on the issue?
WONG: Look, there will be time for that. Ive obviously spoken to the New Zealand High Commissioner and Bill Shorten has spoken to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Certainly, I know that some of the commentary today focuses on this man, who I won't name, who is an Australian, and we certainly do need to ensure that we investigate how this man was radicalised, to seek to prevent anything like this ever happening again.
JOURNALIST: What was your initial reaction to Fraser Anning's comments linking this attack to Muslim immigration?
WONG: The first thing Id say again about Mr Anning is he's a man who has never been elected, a man who desperately peddles hatred in an attempt to gain attention and try to get himself elected. I hope all Australians would look at what he said, and understand how shameful and frankly pathetic it is for someone to be peddling hatred in an attempt to get elected. But more importantly Fraser Anning does not speak for us. He does not speak for Australian values.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned the man wasn't on an Australian intelligence watch list?
WONG: Look, I'm sure those matters will be investigated. We know that there are extremist right-wing groups. We know that we see hate speech, we see too much of this online and on social media, and Im sure this will be investigated appropriately.
JOURNALIST: Senator, whats your message to any Australians feeling unsafe after this attack?
WONG: Of course it is a frightening thing. I'm here in Adelaide and our sister city is Christchurch, and as I said, New Zealand is family so it does feel close to home.
I think there are three things we say: First, all your leaders, all your politicians across parties work together to keep Australians safe, as do the intelligence agencies. The second I would say is that it is important to remember that we stand against the extremist ideology that has fuelled this. And the third thing is to always remember that our values are stronger, who we are is stronger, than this sort of hate.
JOURNALIST: How much does it worry you to see this rise, I suppose, in far-right extremism?
WONG: Look, I'm worried by the rise in extremist views, regardless of where they are. We all should be worried and stand against hatred, because it is hatred which fuels this sort of terrorism, this sort of violence. It is hatred which fuels the sort of horrific acts we are grieving today.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned that this could have an impact on Muslim communities here, Senator?
JOURNALIST: One of the things I wanted to be very clear about this morning to Australia's Muslim community is that we stand with you. And if I could, before I take your question, the Imam Hasan Centre issued a statement yesterday and I think the values in that and the sentiments in that are well worth reprising.
It is times like this that we lose hope and doubt humanity, when people of faith come under attack in such a way, it shows us how low humanity can fall. However, it never ceases to amaze how far humanity can rise after such despicable events"
The statement goes on to say: "United as a community, we can overcome these barbaric events wherever they happen. Divided we become barbaric ourselves and the innocent lives lost around the world should be a sign for us to unite against hate.
JOURNALIST: New Zealand has said they are going to change their gun laws. Do you think we should shine a light on ours?
JOURNALIST: Im sure in the aftermath of these events, just as Prime Minister Ardern has looked to a range of matters - and gun laws are amongst them as she outlined this morning - I'm sure there are a range of matters which the Australian Government and Parliament and agencies will look at as a consequence of what has occurred.
JOURNALIST: Neil Prakash has been sentenced to more than seven years jail in Turkey for his involvement in terror groups. What is your reaction to that?
WONG: It is a welcome thing to see that Mr Prakash has been found guilty. Obviously we would be concerned if he was released within a short time. But it is a good thing that he has been found guilty of the crimes with which he was charged.
JOURNALIST: If we can just return to Fraser Anning, will you move to censure what he said?
WONG: Look, I think the best way we can deal with Mr Anning is to remind people that he was never elected, that this is a desperate attempt to peddle hatred in an attempt to gain attention.
The best thing we can do is to unite together against the sort of hatred he is peddling, the sort of hatred we have seen in too many extremist ideologies, the sort of hatred, frankly, that the extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist that has caused so much loss of life demonstrated.
JOURNALIST: So his views aren't widely shared?
WONG: His views do not represent who we are, they do not represent Australia.
Thank you very much.
JOURNALIST: Thank you, Senator.
Authorised by Noah Carroll, ALP, Canberra.