Senator Bridget McKenzie has defended shaking Senator Anning’s hand after he finished his controversial speech yesterday.

She was one of many senators who lined up to congratulate Senator Anning after he used his maiden speech to say the “final solution” to immigration should be a plebiscite, and to only accept those who “best assimilate”.

Parliamentarians have widely condemned Senator Anning’s speech, with Senator McKenzie among those to come out in support of diversity and multiculturalism today.

She said she shook Senator Anning’s hand because as deputy leader of the National Party she always conducted herself in a manner befitting her role.

“I always treat my fellow senators with respect, even if they hold views that I find offensive and are vastly different from my own,” she said.

Senator McKenzie said that there were 76 elected representatives in the Australian Senate, “some of those I agree with and some of those I am regularly offended by”.

“I choose to debate those ideas I find offensive and the Senate chamber is the appropriate place for that debate to occur,” she said.

“Australia is a strong and diverse democracy, and I believe that is the secret to our success.”

UPDATE 3.40pm

That an Australian senator would choose to speak the way he did about multicultural communities and Australians is disappointing, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services executive officer Kate McInnes says.

Ms McInnes said those with fears or concerns should sit down and have a coffee or a chat with a Muslim, a migrant or a refugee.

“They will see that what they might be seeing in the media is not the reality,” she said.

Ms McInnes said most politicians understood the importance of multiculturalism for economic development, society and cultural life, as proven by the bipartisan support for multiculturalism today in parliament.

She pointed to Scanlon Foundation, which showed the majority of Australians agreed diversity was positive.

Research by the Scanlon Foundation and Monash University published in November last year showed that despite a significant demographic change over 10 years, including population growth and increased diversity, Australian attitudes have remained stable and positive.

Notably, 63 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that “accepting immigrants from many different countries makes Australia stronger”.

A minority of Australians – 37 per cent – believed Australia’s immigration intake is ‘too high’.

Agreement that “multiculturalism has been good for Australia” remained in the high range of 83-86 per cent, where it had been since researchers began asking the question in 2013.

UPDATE 11.15am:

Video filmed yesterday at the end of Senator Anning’s speech shows a number of parliamentarians shaking his hand, including Bridget McKenzie.

Certain parliamentary conventions apply during a senator’s first speech, including that the chamber is well-attended and that he or she is heard without interjection or interruption.

“The new senator, in turn, should not directly criticise other senators or provoke interjections or points of order,” according to a parliamentary guide to senate procedure.

“Following the speech the new senator is congratulated by other senators.”

After the speech, Senator McKenzie is among those who rise and walk to Senator Anning. She shakes his hand and kisses his cheek, one of those in a line of senators to do so.

Senator McKenzie’s office has been contacted for comment.

10.30am

The backlash against an anti-immigration speech in parliament yesterday is continuing, with Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie among those backing a bipartisan motion supporting a strong and open Australia.

The criticisms come after Katter Australia Party senator Fraser Anning used a wide-ranging maiden speech in parliament to outline goals including reducing immigration levels and restricting entry only to those “who best assimilate”.

He said the “final solution” to immigration should be a plebiscite to decide who comes into the nation.

Senator McKenzie, the Nationals’ deputy leader who has offices in Bendigo, has come out in support of upper house leaders.

Labor senator Penny Wong has called on leaders to think about what might be thinking in schoolyards today.

“Those who have been on the receiving end of racism know what it feels like, and know that what leaders say matters,” she said in parliament.

The motion acknowledges the historic actions of the Holt government to start dismantling the White Australia Policy and recognised that since the 1970s successive governments have pursued a racially non-discriminatory immigration policy to “the overwhelming national, and international, benefit of Australia”.

The motion also reiterates support for the principle that Australian governments determine immigration intakes without using race, faith or ethnic origin.

Senator Anning yesterday said huge numbers allowed to ‘flood’ into Australia in recent years was unsustainable, suggesting “ethnocultural diversity, which is known to undermine social cohesion, has been allowed to rise to dangerous levels in many suburbs.”

He called for the abolition of 457 visas unless approved by the immigration minister, with family union restricted to husbands, wives and dependent children. He also wants “drastic” cuts to student visa numbers.

While Senator Anning took aim at those he deemed not similar enough culturally to Australian mainstream culture, his particular concern were Muslims, who he said had historically shown the least ability to assimilate.

After senior Labor frontbenchers Tony Burke and Chris Bowen attacked the speech, Senator Anning responded by saying people on the left were trying to shut down immigration debate.

"Claims that the words (final solution) meant anything other than the ultimate solution to any political question is always a popular vote are simply ridiculous," Senator Anning said in a statement.

"Anyone who actually reads them in context will realise this."

The government also spoke against Senator Fraser, and rejected his call on immigration.

"Fraser Anning's comments on immigration do not reflect the views of the government nor the views of fair minded Australians," Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge.

"We will always maintain a non-discriminatory immigration program."

Mr Turnbull later reinforced Mr Tudge's comment.

"Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world built on a foundation of mutual respect. We reject and condemn racism in any form," he tweeted.

With Australian Associated Press

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