Businessman Peter Yates declared that his late father, a pro-Arab British and Australian politician, was not anti-semitic in an awkward confrontation with Jewish MP Julian Leeser at a private conference, according to a person present.

Mr Yates, a former chief executive of the Packer family's media interests, hit back at Housing Minister Michael Sukkar, who suggested Mr Yates' father, William Yates, and brother Oliver Yates might be biased against Jews.