Christchurch terrorist attack; Fraser Anning; Social media; Keeping Australians safe, keeping Australians together
Prime Minister
PRIME MINISTER: Love conquers hate. That is what we came here today to proclaim. Love conquers hate and an attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths. No one understands that frankly, better than the Coptic community and the many other religious communities around the world, whether here in Australia, in New Zealand, or any part of the globe today. But they all bound together in a community, faith, and I think there is a community today that extends beyond any one faith. It is a community that is committed to innocence. It's a community that is committed to love and peace and that is the group that binds together today, to speak against the evil and the atrocity that was committed against Muslim brothers and sisters in Christchurch.
So today we are gathering together in churches all around the nation, as they gathered together in temples yesterday and mosques on Friday, to all come today, to bring Australians together in one community and to proclaim the triumph of love over hate.
So I'm very pleased to be here with David Coleman today and to join with the Coptic community and to have Jenny and the girls here. This is the important message of hope today. In the midst of this awful atrocity, this is the hope that we can all cling to as peace-loving and free people all around the world.
JOURNALIST: Just on Fraser Anning’s remarks, do you think the bipartisan censure motion goes far enough? Or do you think there is a case to remove him from the Senate?
PRIME MINISTER: I think the full force of the law should be applied to Senator Anning.
JOURNALIST: We have seen horrific pictures on social media, the attack was live-streamed.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
JOURNALIST: At what point are social media companies accountable?
PRIME MINISTER: First of all I’d say that the social media companies cooperated with authorities over the last 48 hours, so I'm making no comment against their willingness to cooperate. But I sadly have to say that the capacity to actually assist fully is very limited on the technology side. In the past, they have suspended this sort of Facebook live-streaming and assurances were given that when it was put back up, it could avoid this. Clearly it hasn't. So I think there is some very real discussions that have to be had about how these facilities and capabilities as they exist on social media, can continue to be offered, where there can't be the assurances given at a technology level, that once these images get out there, it is very difficult to prevent them.
Now, there's obviously a personal responsibility for those who would seek to share these images. Personally I have not even seen them, I don't wish to see them. I don't wish to give the extremist terrorist, the right-wing extremist terrorist, the satisfaction that I would have looked at that, because I have no interest in what he has to say. I have no interest in his manifesto. His manifesto is a weak manifesto of hate that has no place in our country or in any other country of the world today.
But we will be seeking to get assurances from the social media companies about their capability to ensure that this tool cannot be used by terrorists.
JOURNALIST: Can you give us an update on cooperation between New Zealand and the Australian authorities [inaudible] prosecuted?
PRIME MINISTER: The process is for him to be prosecuted in New Zealand and New Zealand authorities are providing the updates on those matters. I'm having regular meetings and updates from my agencies and authorities about not only what's happening here in Australia and the actions and precautions that are being taken here, but also the significant assistance that is being provided by Australia to New Zealand. I had a very lovely message from Prime Minister Ardern this morning when I awoke, thanking Australia for everything that is being done to assist them.
An event of this horrific nature would test any nation's capability in responding. I want to commend all those in New Zealand, the health workers, those in the hospitals, the emergency service workers, the police and other whose have attended the scene for the way that they have been able to perform their responsibilities in what I can only imagine must be the most difficult of circumstances emotionally and otherwise. But they have applied their professionalism. Australians are there providing assistance, coordination assistance, medical assistance. There are already Australians in New Zealand supporting coronial efforts. I know having met with the Muslim community here yesterday, that community is also providing support to the Muslim community in New Zealand as well. So, every request is being not only met but anticipated. They ‘have us at hello,’ when it comes to supporting them.
JOURNALIST: In Australia, is security being tightened, are you concerned about copycats here?
PRIME MINISTER: The short answer to “are we taking precautions?” Yes. I said that two days ago, that has been the immediate response; to stand up our response here in Australia right across the country, not just at places of worship, but more generally. That is being implemented through the state and territory police forces and I want the commend them for all the work they are doing. Their level of cooperation with federal agencies is exemplary, as you'd expect it to be. I want to thank all Premiers, particularly here in New South Wales given the nature of the investigation that has been undertaken in relation to this Tarrant. The work that has been done, not only on that investigation here in New South Wales, but how that extends to a broader international investigation that is being coordinated and assisted by Australian authorities.
So yes, we have stood up our response plan. It is in place and that's the vigilance that has been applied each and every day, to keep Australians safe. But as I said this morning, it's also about keeping Australians together. We can all band together to stand against this hatred and this violence. We all stand together - people of many different faiths, or no faith at all - standing together for innocence and peace and for love over hate.
Thank you, all, very much.