Major Australian party leaders reaffirm racial tolerance

The leaders of Australia's two major political parties have reaffirmed their commitment to racial tolerance in Australia after several senators called for a ban on Muslims.

Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull introduced an anti-racial discrimination motion to the House of Representatives on Monday at the request of opposition leader Bill Shorten.

A similar motion was passed by the lower chamber 20 years ago after Pauline Hanson, then an independent lawmaker, used her first speech to Parliament to warn that Australia was "in danger of being swamped by Asians" due to the nation's non-discriminatory immigration policy.

Hanson was elected to the Senate in July after 18 years out of Parliament. The four senators in her One Nation party now want an end to Muslim immigration.    (AP)

Related articles on Qantara.de:

Almost half of Australians support ban on Muslim immigration

″Alarming emergence″ of religious intolerance in Australia

Australia's Hanson targets Muslims in Senate speech