Greens MPs walk out in protest during Cory Bernardi’s maiden speech to the SA parliament
Cory Bernardi gave a controversial maiden speech to the South Australian parliament and some upper house MPs walked out in protest.
The One Nation leader began by inviting everyone to “the land of my ancestors” before addressing topics such as communism and the transgender community.
Mr Bernardi criticized the “creeping hand of socialism” which he said was dividing South Australians into tribes and fueling “hate”.
“Our political class has squandered our golden opportunities with false ideology and promises and in doing so has taken away the hope and aspirations of many in this country,” he said.
“People are tired of constantly being fed tasteless vegan political tofu and being told it’s delicious eye fillet and is really good for them.
“They want their country back and I want to give it back to them, starting with South Australia.”
In the state elections held in March, One Nation received 21 per cent of first preference votes.
The party secured the seats of Hammond, MacKillop, Narungga and Ngadjuri in the lower house.
Labor received 40 percent of the primary vote in the lower house.
Mr Bernardi was a former Liberal senator who retired in 2020 – completing 13 years in the federal parliament – but was elected to the South Australian legislative council during the March state election.
When he started talking about the transgender community, Greens MLC Robert Simms and Melanie Selwood bowed to Mayor Reggie Martin and walked out in protest.
“The media is silent while the government allows doctors to maim children in the name of gender-affirming care,” Mr. Bernardi said.
“To me, this is sheer insanity that could be met with a common-sense analogy.”
Mr. Bernardi also lashed out at communism, saying he would not smoke Cuban cigars.
“This is my personal struggle, Mr. President, to deprive the communist regime of funds in Cuba to ensure its collapse and democracy to become a reality,” he said.
“I have now learned that the Cuban cigar business has been bought by the communists in China, so now I am taking down two regimes as a personal crusade.”
