Spare a thought for a young Asian Australian kid in Hurstville this week. Amid all of the federal election drama, Senator-elect Pauline Hanson has used her newly minted pedestal to announce to the country that her and her family are "swarming" the community and upsetting the "locals".
When Pauline Hanson was merely a contestant on Dancing With The Stars, her views carried the weight of an eccentric aunt at Christmas lunch. She made everyone uncomfortable, but was easily ignored.
Now she's back in the political arena, Hanson's hurtful missives must be met with a sustained challenge from across the political spectrum. Failing to expose her lies will mean that for some they become facts. We all have a responsibility to speak up.
When lies are peddled by people in positions of authority or power it gives licence to racists to act out. An ignorant line at a press conference can so easily become a racist diatribe directed towards an innocent school-kid on a public bus. That's not that type of community I want to live in.
You only need to look at the highly charged Brexit referendum. Leave campaigners focused heavily on the issue of foreigners and immigration. In the days following the result police reported a 57 per cent increase in racist hate crime. The reports of Trump-inspired violence to immigrants in the US paint a similar picture.
There will be many well-meaning Australians who, while opposed to Hanson, believe the best thing we can do is ignore her - they argue once robbed of public attention, she'll fade like she did in the 1990s.
This won't work. As a Senator with the potential balance of power, she will be part of every piece of legislation coming before the Parliament.
There is also no point inviting Hanson to Hurstville to experience the real Australia. Racism isn't cured with a good meal. Charlatans will always claim they have simple answers to complicated problems. Besides, Hanson has no interest in changing her views, so I won't waste my or my constituents' time.
Instead, Hanson must be challenged head on. The arguments and facts are at progressives' fingertips.
Multiculturalism works. Our country, with its scores of races and religions, is prosperous and peaceful. Our brand of racial cohesion is the envy of the world and welcoming Asian migrants has brought untold wealth and opportunity to Australia.
Australians of Asian heritage shouldn't have to apologise to anyone for living in Hurstville.
They have built a community that has achieved the best educational results in the country, crime is at its lowest level in decades and they work tirelessly contributing to Australia's economy.
They should be as proud of their community as I am. They certainly shouldn't have to cop criticism from someone like Hanson.
Chris Minns is the state Member for Kogarah, which includes the suburb of Hurstville.
This story first appeared on the Sydney Morning Herald
