Dear NZ — Fraser Anning is not us

Fraser Anning is a vile git, who through benefits of a failed system can call himself an Australian Senator, writes Justin Smith. His comments on the Christchurch massacre in no way represent us.

It’s a miserable reality that stupid people can cause a lot of pain.

We’ve just seen a terrifying example of that truth in New Zealand. It’s something we’re going to struggle to forget for a long time.

And then we have Fraser Anning. A vile git, who through the twisted benefits of a failed system, is able to call himself an Australian Senator.

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Barely any time had passed since we first heard that peaceful people had been murdered in their own churches, than Anning started sending tweets blaming the very people who were dead or wounded.

Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?

— Senator Fraser Anning (@fraser_anning) March 15, 2019

If you thought it was some kind of brain-fart that had him tapping out a social media post before he had the chance to think about it, well think again — he then followed it with a full page statement.

And before you can even get to the words, one of the most revolting parts of his statement is that the Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms is at the top.

Senator Fraser Anning's statement.

The image of the emu and the red kangaroo have been used for years by loving human beings as they do good things, and members of our defence force.

But Anning still got to use it over a collection of some of the most bigoted, hate laden, and ignorant words written by an Australian politician in recent memory.

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In fact, I can’t think of one worse. Or more embarrassing.

He talked about the “growing fear” of the “increase Muslim presence”, and that the “real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place”.

(I’m sorry to repeat them — my fingers feel stupider for having typed them out in this column.)

A crowd gathered today in Auckland’s Aotea Square for a memorial to remember victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty

The comments — which ended in a dreary bible quote — were quickly condemned by both sides of politics, and they were ridiculed with shaming disdain, but what really injures us is that he sits in our parliament and we’re paying for him to make these statements.

Anning has become infamous for being the Senator who got his job on just 19 votes. We all know the system is a mess. But the problem goes far deeper.

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Pauline Hanson must answer for Fraser Anning. He was on her One Nation ticket, and after another colossal drip of hers — Malcolm Roberts — was chucked after the dual citizenship scandal, Anning was placed into a red seat.

The remarks by Senator Fraser Anning blaming the murderous attacks by a violent, right-wing, extremist terrorist in New Zealand on immigration are disgusting. Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian Parliament.

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 15, 2019

He dumped her party immediately and sat as an independent, before Bob Katter then embraced him to the Katter Party bosom.

But he was even too extreme for Bob after talking about a “final solution” to immigration in his maiden speech, and he was expelled.

Both Hanson and Katter should be apologising for inventing and propping up Anning. If they didn’t know what he was like, they should have. They both call themselves the leaders of parties and if they want to be treated with even a millimetre of respect, they need to have better people.

Before sitting as an independent, Senator Fraser Anning joined Katter's Australia Party after leaving Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party. Picture: Brendan Radke

They are responsible for subjecting us to the Anning stupidity, and the pain that it brings.

I interviewed Anning on national radio, after he stood with the United Patriots Front crew at a Melbourne rally, and I can assure you there’s not much happening inside his skull bone. He’s adept at making robotic statements about immigrants and black people and Muslims, but when he’s asked to think or explain, he fails.

But perhaps what should really frighten us are the people who cheer for him. A quick read of the Facebook comments of his followers, will stop you sleeping tonight. As if we didn’t have enough to keep us awake.

To our mates in New Zealand, we love you. You have our support. Anning is not us.

And we’re sorry if another stupid person caused you pain.

Justin Smith is 3AW presenter and Herald Sun columnist

@justinsmith3AW