‘We’re full of racists’: Jan Fran exposes politics’ racism issue

The Project co-host Jan Fran says an issue engulfing Prime Minister Scott Morrison exposes a wider issue Australia needs to face.

The Project co-host Jan Fran has accused Australia of being “full of racists” and unloaded on Scott Morrison as the Prime Minister fights explosive allegations from 2007.

During the Liberal preselection battle for the electoral seat of Cook, details from statutory declarations signed in 2016 claimed Mr Morrison warned party members against supporting rival, Michael Towke due to his Lebanese background.

It is also claimed Mr Morrison cited rumours which suggested Mr Towke - who is part of Sydney’s Lebanese Maronite Christian community - was a “Moslem”.

Mr Morrison has continued to dismiss these claims.

Fran – who is Australian-Lebanese – said the issue spoke to the greater problem of racism in politics and Australia.

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The Project co-host Jan Fran.

Michael Towke left politics after a bitter preselection battle in 2007.

“Lemme tell you what ethnic minorities have known since forever in this country. Those in power (and it ain’t just Morrison) will use you when it’s politically expedient. The solidarity, appreciation, respect they show is always, ALWAYS conditional,” she shared in an Instagram and Twitter post. “They will turn on a dime.”

She used the example of Mr Morrison previously visiting churches linked to the Lebanese Maronite community in 2019 and 2022, like St Maroun’s Maronite Church in Adelaide and St Charbel’s Church in the western Sydney suburb of Punchbowl.

She said that while Mr Morrison spoke about his “appreciation” and “respect” of the community during these visits, this was after allegedly denouncing Mr Towke’s ethnicity.

“They’ll come to your church and wax lyrical about the ‘deep appreciation’ they have for your heritage and then they’ll use that very heritage – the one they so deeply appreciate – to throw you under the bus the second they need to,” Fran continued.

Fran’s powerful post also spoke about racism within Australia. She said “Morrison seems to believe being a Muslim is so terrible a thing that he can use it to ruin someone’s good standing,” and added that it was a tactic which worked.

“And worse than that – it’s effective. We all know what this says about our country and its leadership but I’ll spell it out,” she wrote.

“We’re full of racists and there are people ready to exploit that.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied the allegations put forward in the statutory declarations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles.

Since losing the preselection of Cooke in 2007, Mr Towke has remained silent about the Mr Morrison’s alleged behaviour until Sunday.

On Sunday, Mr Towke doubled down on the claims made in the statutory declarations, which he also signed six years ago.

“I stand by the declarations I asserted in my statutory declaration,” Mr Towke said.

“Among many unedifying tactics used to unseat me from my preselection victory for Morrison, racial vilification was front and centre and he was directly involved.”

The Prime Minister has continued to dismiss the assertions, dubbing them as “mudslinging” from disgruntled colleagues.

“Well, all I can say is, it’s just simply untrue. And these are quite malicious, and bitter slurs, which are deeply offensive, and I reject them out absolutely,” he told reporters in Tasmania.

The historical allegations were bought to light after Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells’ blistering speech to the Senate on Tuesday night. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas.

The historical claims were bought to light last week after longtime Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells sprayed the Prime Minister on Tuesday night. This came after the veteran Liberal party member was ousted after losing Senate preselection.

She said Mr Morrison “backstabbed” his political enemies and was “not fit to be Prime Minister”.

“Morrison might profess to be Christian, but there was nothing Christian about what was done to Michael Towke,’’ she said.

“When Morrison made his run for the seat of Cook there were several hopefuls including Towke, Fletcher and Coleman.

“I’m advised that there were several statutory declarations to attest to racial comments made by Morrison, at the time, that we can’t have a Lebanese person in Cook.”

Originally published as ‘We’re full of racists’: Jan Fran exposes politics’ racism issue