Senator WATERS (Queensland—Leader of the Australian Greens in the Senate) (14:00): I seek leave to make a three-minute statement on chamber procedure. Leave not granted. Senator WATERS: Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name, I move: That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Waters from making a three-minute statement on chamber procedure. The reason that this is an urgent matter that needs to be debated is that on Monday evening in this chamber, in the course of debate on the counterterrorism bill, Senator Hanson's contribution was awash with racist language, including some despicable race based personal remarks about Senator Faruqi that should be withdrawn and that Senator Hanson should apologise for. Senator Hanson said: Senator Faruqi, I will tell you again: if you don't see yourself as loving this country and abiding by the laws of the country, I have no problem. I will actually take you to the airport and put you on a plane and wave you away … Not only are these remarks in breach of standing ordering 193, to not personally reflect— The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, please resume your seat. Senator Hanson? Senator Hanson: Point of order: I've been called obscene names at the back here and I want it retracted, please—withdrawn. The PRESIDENT: In the interests of the chamber, Senator Waters, if you've made such remarks— Senator Hanson: Senators Steele-John—I'm sorry—and possibly Shoebridge. Those comments have been made from the back of the chamber to me— The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Hanson. I have Senator Shoebridge on his feet. Senator Shoebridge. Senator Shoebridge: Yes, I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Senator Steele-John: I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Senator Waters, you've just started your contribution, but I remind you that you need to address the requirement that this is an urgent matter. Senator WATERS: Thank you. As I was saying, the reason that this debate is urgent is that these remarks are not only in breach of standing order 193, to not personally reflect on another senator, but also clearly in breach of the behavioural code for Australian parliamentarians, which this chamber adopted on 8 February this year. Clause 11 of that code states, 'It is a prohibited behaviour for senators to discriminate in any form, including on the grounds of race or religion.' That code, which this chamber has endorsed, describes such behaviour as unacceptable, and it says that it 'will not be tolerated, condoned or ignored'. That is why it is urgent that we debate this matter today and why I sought to make a statement but instead am suspending standing orders to address this matter. Senators are meant to be complying with this behaviour code even before the enforcement body, the independent parliamentary standards commission, is eventually established—and I urge the government to hurry up on that front. I am calling on Senator Hanson to withdraw her comments—comments that, I might add, she has made on a number of previous occasions as well—that she will drive Senator Faruqi to the airport and wave her away. It is tantamount to saying, 'Go back to where you came from,' as if Senator Faruqi is not an Australian, as if Senator Faruqi is not a citizen of this country, as if she is not an elected representative for the people of New South Wales. Senator Hanson needs to withdraw these remarks and apologise unconditionally. The whole point of having codes of conduct, as recommended by the Set the standard report, as endorsed by this chamber, is to set the standard for other workplaces. It's to make this a safe workplace, it's to act with dignity and it's to not actively discriminate against others on the basis of their race, their gender, their sexuality, their religion. People of colour deserve to feel safe and welcome in this country and not have the likes of Senator Hanson say foul and racially discriminatory things which amount to 'Go back to where you came from.' There is no place for this kind of hateful language here or anywhere in this country. If Senator Hanson will not voluntarily withdraw her repugnant remarks against Senator Faruqi and apologise for them, I ask you, President, to ask Senator Hanson to uphold the standing orders and the behaviour code and withdraw and apologise.