MEMBER OF FEDERAL PARLIAMENT PAULINE HANSON
The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: I ask the Attorney General, a question without notice. Is the Attorney General aware of media reports that Ms Pauline Hanson, who lives in Queensland, will launch the Pauline Hanson support movement in Sydney in January next year? Is the Government concerned that the launch might offend the residents of Sydney, 41 per cent of whom were born outside Australia or have parents who were born outside Australia? Has the Attorney General sought advice from the President of the Anti-Discrimination Board as to whether the provocative comments of Ms Hanson would breach the racial vilification provisions of the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Act?
The Hon. J. W. SHAW: Like the majority of honourable members, perhaps all honourable members in this House, I have been concerned about the inflammatory comments of Ms Pauline Hanson for some time. It is appropriate for the honourable member to raise that question. Whether those comments constitute some breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act is an entirely different matter, but I am obviously prepared to consider any comments in the light of the provisions of the Act.