Malcolm Turnbull is preparing to move a special parliamentary motion upholding equal rights for all Australians, mirroring a move by John Howard two decades ago.
The prime minister put the motion denouncing racial intolerance, reaffirming parliament's commitment to equal rights for all Australians regardless of race, colour, creed or origin, and a commitment to the process of reconciliation with indigenous people on the lower house's agenda on Wednesday.
Labor leader Bill Shorten wrote to Mr Turnbull at the opening of the new parliament, which sees the return of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and new moves to water down protections against hate speech, proposing the bipartisan motion.
Parliament will debate the motion when politicians return to Canberra in October, because Mr Shorten is absent for the rest of this week.
