Tasmanian Parliament resumes for 2019 with condolence motion for victims of Christchurch attack

UPDATED: Two new faces have joined the fray as State Parliament resumes for 2019 with a condolence motion for victims of the Christchurch attack.

STATE Parliament has resumed for 2019 with a largely ceremonial sitting featuring an emotional expression of condolences for the victims of the Christchurch massacre.

New MPs Joan Rylah and John Tucker have taken their seats in the House of Assembly chamber, replacing Adam Brooks and Rene Hidding who resigned from parliament during the summer break.

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Premier Will Hodgman requested a suspension of the standing orders to offer a motion of condolence for the victims of the Christchurch terror attack and members stood for a minute’s silence.

“There are no words that can explain the vile attack on the innocents of Christchurch last week,” Mr Hodgman said.

He said the attack was a horrific display of racism and intolerance.

“We condemn the actions of this evil coward, who is not Australian … an attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths and we condemn it entirely,” he said.

“Everyone has the right to feel at home, in the street and in their place of worship.”

Mr Hodgman said he had written to the Prime Minister of New Zealand to convey the state’s condolences.

New Lyons MHA John Tucker and Braddon MHA Joan Rylah taking the oath at the opening of State Parliament for 2019. Picture: DAVID KILLICK

Labor leader Rebecca White extended her party’s sympathies: “We show our support, we show our love, we share the grief and we share the disbelief.

“Our condolences are genuine, they are heartfelt, and our very deepest sympathies are with them all.”

Ms White and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor spoke of the power of language.

Ms White said the parliament “must denounce” the people using the attack to “leverage political mileage and agitate”, while Ms O’Connor urged the Lower House to reflect on the political discourse of the past 15 years.

She emphasised no one in the Tasmanian parliament could be accused of using xenophobic language.

“It is not appropriate to say this is not the time to talk about the language we use,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Now is exactly the time to challenge that language. Words have power, they have power for good and they have power for enormous evil.”

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