Kenyan-born Senator Lucy Gichuhi left a section of Australians stunned as she delivered a passionate speech on racism and immigration in the house.
Gichuhi questioned why she had to face aspersions cast on her citizenship and race yet she was legally in office as a Senator largely because the country's systems support multi-culturalism.
Alluding to her Kenyan roots, she stated that where she had grown up, even if supposedly "third-world", had prepared her to serve in the Senate.
"At what point are we going to say you are Australian? Full stop. Period. Finished...
"I happen to be Briton, I happen to be Kenyan, I happen to be Australian, that's my history," Gichuhi asserted.
"At what point are we going to say you are Australian? Full stop. Period. Finished."
If you only watch one speech about racism in Australia today, watch this from Liberal @senatorlucy (who was born in Kenya). pic.twitter.com/rO23lbBbJm— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) August 15, 2018
She challenged her counterparts to drop extreme partisan positions and examine their own prejudices.
The Senator noted that she did not have to be questioned on her origins, calling for leaders to instead address serious issues on diversity.
"I don't have to be asked where I came from, I know," she stated.
Reacting to her words, many Australians backed Gichuhi while acknowledging that the country indeed faced challenges of racial discrimination.
"It was one heck of a powerful and impressive speech. Sure had me sitting up straight and listening...and thinking!!!" wrote one Dorian H.
"Good stuff Lucy I'm sick of the term 'Australian' being used in an exclusionary pejorative way by too many nowadays," stated another user known as The cattery.
"If you only watch one speech about racism in Australia today, watch this from Liberal @senatorlucy," wrote Alice Workman.
[caption caption="Senator Lucy Gichuhi"]
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