Racism row erupts in parliament as ‘speak English’ comment resurfaces

An MP has angrily denied making a racist comment in parliament after an old quote re-emerged – along with an awkward record – after a question about a sports club.

Senior Cabinet minister Tom Koutsantonis has issued an impassioned plea for racism in the parliament to stop, following a row about an “outrageous attack” made by an opposition MP.

In parliament on Wednesday, Mr Koutsantonis recounted an incident when Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone was recorded in Hansard calling out across the chamber “Can you speak English?” during an estimates session in 2011.

Mr Koutsantonis had been asked by opposition transport spokesman Vincent Tarzia whether he or any member of his ministerial staff advocated for a local sports club grant of $2m for the West Adelaide Hellas junior soccer club.

Mr Tarzia asked whether Mr Koutsantonis believed the decision of Senator Bridget McKenzie to step down because she failed to disclose membership of a club which received a grant had “set a standard of ministerial accountability”.

“I have to say I find this questioning a little bit offensive,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis. Picture: Matt Turner.

Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone in the original article in The Advertiser on July 8, 2011.

“When you attack one part of the Greek community, you attack all of it because the people who go to these clubs are the ones who go to the churches, community clubs, the ones who are volunteers at a range of these groups.”

He then recounted Mr Whetstone’s remark, which Mr Whetstone immediately denied and demanded that Mr Koutsantonis withdraw.

“I take offence at the member for West Torrens accusing me or something I did not commit,” he said.

However, later in question time, Mr Koutsantonis produced transcript showing that the comment had been made 11 years ago to the day.

“I do speak English, and if you are making reference to my Greek heritage, I am proud of my Greek heritage and I will not take offence from someone like you,” he said.

“Perhaps you should go back to the Riverland and speak to the people there of Greek heritage in Barmera, in Renmark, in Loxton and see what they say to you about this outrageous attack.

“Mr Speaker, I am sick of this. It has got to stop.”

In 2011, a furore erupted when Mr Whetstone denied telling Mr Koutsantonis to “speak English” in a derogatory reference to his Greek heritage, despite the words being audible in a broadcast of the pair’s parliamentary exchange.

Mr Whetstone then said he was considering a defamation suit against Mr Koutsantonis for his “gutter” claim.

The Hansard, or official record of parliamentary proceedings, for July 6, 2011, names Mr Whetstone as interjecting during a speech by Mr Koutsantonis, who then asks: “What did you say? Speak English?”

It is understood Mr Whetstone and some colleagues believed another Liberal MP made the comment but Mr Whetstone did not correct the Hansard, so the official record stands.

Mr Koutsantonis has himself previously come under fire for making racially-charged remarks.

Speaking about former treasurer Rob Lucas, who had Japanese heritage, Mr Koutsantonis in 2006 told parliament: “If I was Rob Lucas I would take a leaf out of my Japanese ancestry, drink the sake in the morning, get the paper out, get the sword out, get on my knees, think of the gods and commit political hari kiri.”