Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces off with Waleed Aly
Scott Morrison and Waleed Aly have gone head to head in a heated live interview on The Project amid their feud in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.
Scott Morrison and Waleed Aly have gone head to head in a heated live interview on The Project amid their feud in aftermath of the NZ terror attack.
In an unprecedented interview, Mr Morrison sat down with Aly from 6.30pm on the Ten show for a one-on-one live interview.
It came after The Project co-host repeated the claim that Mr Morrison urged the Coalition in 2011 to exploit concerns about Muslims in Australia to win votes — an allegation that the PM has called “a disgraceful smear and an appalling lie”.
During the at times heated debate, Mr Morrison said he did discuss Muslim immigration in shadow cabinet but denied raising it in the context of exploiting community sentiment.
Aly later asked him if Australia has an Islamophobia problem. The Prime Minister replied, saying: “I don’t know if Australians understand Islam very well. And that can often lead to fear of things you don’t understand.”
Aly then directly asked Mr Morrison if the Coalition has a problem with Islamophobia.
Mr Morrison said he did not believe the Liberal Party does. But he could not say if the Nationals do.
“I don’t believe the Liberal Party does... I can’t speak for the National Party,” he said.
He added that he would let the leader of the National Party respond to that question.
As the debate raged, Mr Morrison then went on the attack over Aly’s emotional monologue on Friday in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attack.
“You implied Muslims couldn’t feel safe because they had a PM who had somehow been prejudiced against them and I don’t believe that’s true,” he said.
Aly replied, saying: “That wasn’t the implication that I was making.”
PM ON TURKISH LEADER’S COMMENTS
Earlier today, Mr Morrison welcomed the Turkish President toning down his language after an inflammatory speech that sparked a diplomatic row.
Mr Morrison believes Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “moderated” his views about Australians after a series of high-level crisis meetings overnight.
“It’s my intention to break any cycle of recklessness and work through the issues practically,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
“To register in the strongest and clearest of terms the offence that was taken - I believe rightly, by those comments yesterday - but now to work constructively.”
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the comments were dangerous and very disturbing.
Mr Dutton said many Australians - including school groups - were in Turkey to visit war sites and memorials ahead of Anzac Day next month.
“The comments were dangerous and they were called out,” he told 2GB radio. “If there is an apology and a back-down, I think that’s entirely appropriate.”
The prime minister summoned the Turkish ambassador to Parliament House on Wednesday to explain the remarks.
Erdogan doubles down on Anzac criticism
Anzac security fears over attack comments
Mr Morrison confirmed all options for responding to Turkey were on the table, including demanding a formal apology or kicking out the ambassador. Australian diplomats are also attending an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Turkey on Friday to discuss the terror attacks in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, official travel advice for Turkey is still under review, with thousands of Australians planning to go there for Anzac Day services. Australia’s travel advice for Turkey is already set at “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorism.
“I welcome some of the more positive statements about the safety of Australians travelling from the Turkish government overnight,” the prime minister said.
“But I still think we have a bit more distance to travel.”
Tour companies Fanatics and Intrepid, who take Australians to Gallipoli for Anzac Day, say their plans have not been rattled by the issue.
Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder after 50 people were shot dead and dozens more injured at two Christchurch mosques last week.
MARISE PAYNE’S PHONE CALL TO TURKEY
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has spoken with her Turkish counterpart in the wake of “deeply offensive” and “insulting” threats to Australians visiting Gallipoli, as a spokesman for
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his words were taken out of context.
Senator Payne spoke to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu late last night where she is understood to have made representations about the response Australia was seeking after President Erdogan sparked a diplomatic row.
Turkey came out defending their leader. Fahrettin Altun, a communications director to the Turkish presidency said Mr Erdogan’s words warning anti-Muslim Australians would be “sent back in coffins” like their grandfathers at Gallipoli, were said in response to the accused Christchurch terrorist’s manifesto, that was sent around online during Friday’s deadly mosque attacks.
“President #Erdogan’s words were unfortunately taken out of context. He was responding to the so-called ‘manifesto’ of the terrorist who killed 50 innocent Muslims in Christchurch, NewZealand. Turks have always been the most welcoming & gracious hosts to their #Anzac visitors,” he wrote.
“The terrorist’s manifesto not only targeted Erdogan himself but also the Turkish people and the Turkish state. As he was giving the speech at the Canakkale (Gallipoli) commemoration, he framed his remarks in a historical context of attacks against Turkey, past and present.”
Mr Altun shared on Twitter the official translation of Erdogan’s speech delivered in Canakkale on Monday on the 104th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.
He claimed Mr Erdogan’s words were: “We have been here for a thousand years. And God willing we will be here til the end of time. Your ancestors came and saw us here. Then some left on their feet, some in coffins. If you come here with the same intentions (to invade our land) we will be waiting and have no doubt we will see you off like your ancestors.”
AUSTRALIA OFFENDED BY GALLIPOLI REMARKS
Australia took major offence to the Gallipoli reference, the scene of a blood-drenched WWI battle.
More than 8000 Australians died fighting Turkish forces around the seaside town, a landmark moment in Australian history
Canberra demanded an explanation from Turkey’s envoy over the remarks and announced a review into official travel advice to the country.
“Remarks have been made by Turkish President Erdogan that I consider highly offensive to Australians, and highly reckless in this very sensitive environment,” Mr Morrison said.
“They are offensive, because they insult the memory of our Anzacs and they violate the pledge that is etched in the stone at Gallipoli, of the promise of Ataturk to the mothers of our Anzacs. The excuses I don’t accept are that things get said in the heat of the moment.’’
On the campaign trail, the Turkish leader has showed the video footage of the Christchurch terror attack that killed 50 people and injured 50 others. He said the massacre intended to target Turkey and Islam.
Mr Morrison said Australia’s Turkish community have shared their disappointment in President Erdogan.
“I don’t think it does reflect the views of the Turkish people, or certainly of Turkish Australians,” he said.
In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Wednesday, Mr Erdogan said the attacker in New Zealand was no different from the Islamic State group.
He also called on Western leaders to learn from “the courage, leadership and sincerity” of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and “embrace Muslims living in their respective countries.”
Cheap toys ‘fail’ child safety standards
Toys from a cheap overseas retailer can quickly turn deadly for children, a consumer group has found.
Cheap toys ‘fail’ child safety standards
Toys from a cheap overseas retailer can quickly turn deadly for children, a consumer group has found.