The Victorian Greens have condemned the deeply disturbing scenes yesterday of far-right extremist violence, including the storming of Camp Sovereignty where people were ambushed and assaulted.
There is absolutely no place for this disgusting racism and hate in our community, or anywhere. The Greens stand in solidarity with First Nations people, multicultural communities and the broader community in stamping out racism and demanding stronger action to tackle racism and the rise of far-right extremism.
The Victorian Greens have long warned about the rise of far-right extremism and secured Victoria's first parliamentary inquiry into the issue in 2021. This inquiry made clear recommendations to respond to the online recruitment and radicalisation of mostly young men who were being preyed on by these groups online.
The Victorian Greens say that unfortunately the response from the Labor Government at the time failed to meaningfully commit to the long-term resourcing of the targeted interventions required to stop this hate from spreading, but that now is the time for urgent action.
As stated by the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
"The storming of Camp Sovereignty by far-right extremists assaulting people and committing awful acts of violence are deeply disturbing.
"First Nations people are leading a movement for truth and justice that makes our whole community stronger, and this racist attack is an attack on all of us.
"Far-right extremism has been growing for years, preying on and radicalising young men online. The Greens' inquiry set out a clear roadmap to stop this hate from spreading, but it wasn't taken seriously enough. Now is the time for real, long-term investment to tackle extremism at its roots."
As stated by the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism, Anasina Gray-Barberio:
"These vile, racist attacks on First Nations and multicultural communities are terrifying, and a stark reminder why we must stand together against hate. As a migrant, I know the strength and resilience of our communities, and I know our diversity is what makes Victoria stronger."
"For too long, this Labor Government has failed to take the safety of multicultural communities seriously. Our safety should be a priority, and we should never be expected to shrink ourselves just to feel safe. We deserve better, to live proudly in who we are, in a community free from hate and fear."
