Comments made yesterday by senior Labor Party Members, including Leader Anthony Albanese, making fun of Senator Zed Seselja’s name have no place in our society.

These kinds of comments are distasteful, hurtful and send a very poor message to proud multicultural Australians.

The message that the Labor Party is sending to the community is that Australians with a culturally diverse background – Australians with a culturally “different” name – have no place in senior leadership roles.

Australians deserve a parliament that reflects the diversity and strength in our communities. We must hold our leaders to a higher standard than this.