The disgraceful behaviour of Senator Fraser Anning in the wake of last week’s Christchurch mosque terror attack has prompted a nation-wide call to have him removed from parliament. It is a public demand being communicated through a Change.org petition that has garnered over 1 million signatures and counting.
The petition ‘Remove Fraser Anning from parliament‘ is the largest change.org petition in Australian history, according to executive director of the company, Sally Rugg.
This is the largest https://t.co/qL3wxV1J17 petition in Aus history. I think it could crack a million today…
“We can send a strong message that hate speech will not be condoned, and that Muslims, or any group of people, will not have their dignity and rights eroded.” pic.twitter.com/9lcF2krIk8
— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) March 16, 2019
The numbers in response to these petitions is absolutely unprecedented. https://t.co/qL3wxV1J17 petitions capture what Australians en masse care about at any given time. Enormous response to these petitions shows exactly how Australians feel about hate speech and hate crimes.
— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) March 16, 2019
The petition references the atrocious comments Anning made in response to the Christchurch terror attack, in which he blamed New Zealand’s immigration policy for causing white nationalists to attack innocent people, killing 50.
“Senator Fraser Anning’s views have no place in the government of our democratic and multicultural country.” the petition reads. “Within the bounds of Australian law, we request that he be pushed to resign from his position as Senator, and if appropriate, be investigated by law enforcement agencies for supporting right wing terrorism.”
“Fraser Anning was elected on dishonest grounds.” it continues. “He received the position of Senator based on his inclusion in One Nation and following the expulsion of a One Nation Senator for dual citizenship. He resigned from One Nation within an hour of being elected. He received only 19 primary votes.”
The petition is addressed to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Liberal Senator Scott Ryan, calling for Senator Anning’s forced resignation.
Dr Ahmad, who created the petition that was merged with a similar one by Harris Sultan, told Sydney Morning Herald she recognises that, “realistically … is likely to be constitutionally impossible to expel Anning” through the petition.
“We can however send out a strong message that vile hate speech will not be condoned, and that Muslims, or indeed any group of people, will not have their dignity and rights eroded.” She said.
The Morrison Government and Labor Opposition have however agreed to move a joint-motion censuring Senator Anning when the Senate returns in April. Morrison also promised that the “full force of the law” should be applied to Senator Anning for the ‘egg boy’ incident in which Anning retaliated at a 17-year-old boy who smashed an egg on the Senator’s head during a press conference.