‘Outright racism’: Greens Senator blows the whistle on Parliament

A federal politician has blown the whistle on “outright racism” displayed by some of her colleagues in Parliament.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi has spoken out about racism in Parliament. Picture: AAP

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi has sensationally blown the whistle on “outright racism” in Federal Parliament.

Senator Faruqi is the first Muslim Australian to take on a senior leadership position of a large political party in the country.

She was named Greens Deputy Leader last week.

Senator Faruqi said she would use the position to call out Islamophobia in Australia and the racism displayed by some of her parliamentary colleagues.

“I have never been shy of saying it like it is and I will continue to speak up against racism, Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination,” she told ABC Radio on Monday.

Mehreen Faruqi has been named Greens Deputy Leader.

Senator Faruqi said Islamophobia was getting worse in Australia and had increased since the Christchurch massacre, where 51 Muslims were murdered by an Australian man.

“The political class has a lot to answer for that,” she said.

“There has been so much not just dog-whistling against Muslim communities or people of colour, but there has been outright racism spouted in our Parliament.”

Senator Faruqi referenced a racist speech made by former senator Fraser Anning and other comments from One Nation members.

“But we have also had people from major parties who have stood on the sidelines and not called it out,” she said.

“So we have had a situation where Islamophobia, racism, discrimination has been legitimised by people from within parliament.

“And I would hope with the change of government, that would start to change as well.”