Bob Katter’s ‘Nazi’ radio rant ’offensive and bizarre,’ Ella Haddad says

Queensland MP Bob Katter has launched a bizarre attack on a state Labor MP, likening her desire for better laws to prevent hate crimes to the ideology of the murderous Nazi regime.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. MARCH 25, 2024: Bob Katter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Queensland MP Bob Katter has launched a bizarre attack on a Tasmanian Labor politician, likening her desire for better laws to prevent hate crimes to the ideology of the murderous Nazi regime.

Ella Haddad, Labor’s shadow minister for multicultural affairs, told ABC radio presenter Leon Compton on Friday there was a need for legislation to protect people from the perpetrators of hate crimes.

“The police need the tools … to make sure that when they’re charged with offences that there is an ability to recognise that offending has been motivated by racial hatred or other forms of hatred,” she said.

Labor member for Clark Ella Haddad.

Mr Compton’s next guest was Mr Katter — the federal member for Kennedy — who was ostensibly in Hobart to talk about a decline in retail banking, but took the opportunity to launch into Ms Haddad.

“I could feel the hatred dripping off her. She would be out there … supporting the pro-Gazan mob. Pro Gaza? They hate Jews,” he said. “They’re exactly the same people that are out there as Nazis in the 30s and 40s.

“If those great people that stood up against the Nazis later on, had stood up sooner, and realised that anti-Semitism is one of the greatest evils …

“To preach racism and then back the people that murdered 1200 people and a completely unprovoked assault upon another country, murdering little children, and then …” before being cut off by Mr Compton.

It was unclear what aspect of Ms Haddad’s comments Mr Katter was responding to as she made no mention of the current conflict in the Middle East.

Ms Haddad said Mr Katter’s comments were not only “offensive” but “utterly bizarre”.

“I am a fierce advocate for our multicultural community and have for a long time supported the calls of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania and others for stronger laws to protect against race related violence and crime,” she said.

“It’s appalling to see the recent rise in race-related violence in Hobart and I won’t hold back when it comes to standing up when I see people in our community attacked on the basis of the colour of their skin.

“I am still not sure what point Mr Katter was trying to make in his strange tirade, but I certainly won’t let his comments stop me from continuing to stand up against racism.”

Originally published as Bob Katter’s ‘Nazi’ radio rant ’offensive and bizarre,’ Ella Haddad says