Ms LEY (Farrer—Deputy Leader of the Opposition)

I rise with a message from my electorate of Farrer: those who try to divide us will only make us stronger.

On 12 October, up to 50 Neo-Nazis dressed in black with faces covered converged at Corowa along the New South Wales Murray River.

The location choice was no coincidence; Corowa is the birthplace of Australia’s federation. The people’s convention of 1893 united this nation’s divided colonies to work as one country.

These men, the National Socialist Network, sought support for a publicity stunt. They failed miserably. Corowa rebuked the mob, demanding they leave town immediately.

When I visited the next day, the message was clear from the mayor, business and community leaders and everyday citizens: your views are not welcome in our town—not now and not ever.

It also emerged that the group had assembled at Albury’s war memorial, alone on a cold midwinter evening, preaching white supremacy rubbish to themselves.

That’s where these views will be delivered, disappearing into the void of a dark night. You might meet in secret or sink into backroom social media sites, but as soon as you come out of the dark, you will be rejected.

Failing to find support in our cities? If you think there’s a base for you in rural Australia, think again.

Corowa and Albury have spoken loudly—those who try and divide us only make us stronger.

(ends)