Fraser Anning slammed for attending St Kilda far-Right rally
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have issued statements condemning the far-Right extremists who participated in Saturday’s ugly St Kilda rally, during which footage of protesters performing the Nazi salute was captured.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Labor leader Bill Shorten has joined Prime Minister Scott Morrison in condemning the far-Right extremists who participated in a wild rally in St Kilda on Saturday.
“In the corrosive and fragmented climate of public debate, it’s become unfortunately common for some to seek out attention by picking on minorities, the less powerful, by attacking in the most vile terms, normally someone who can’t defend themselves,” Mr Shorten said in a statement.
MORE NEWS: SENATOR DEFENDS TAXPAYER-FUNDED TRIP TO UGLY RALLY
“Here and around the world, right-wing extremists are turning this into a political art form.
“Australia won’t achieve any what our nation’s great destiny can be by pulling the racist lever.”
The Prime Minister earlier today thanked Victorian police for their efforts dealing with the “ugly racial protests” in St Kilda.
“Intolerance does not make Australia stronger,” the PM said in a tweet. “Australia is the most successful migrant country in the world.
“This has been achieved by showing respect for each other, our laws and values and maintaining sensible immigration policies. Let’s keep it that way, it makes Australia stronger.”
Victorian Liberal MP Tim Wilson said he normally didn’t like to validate “racist bullies” with attention, but the “ugly protests in St Kilda” needed to be condemned.
“Australia is a country for everyone who shares our commitment to a pluralistic liberal democracy anchored in mutual respect,” Mr Wilson said.
“These racists don’t understand Australia, what it stands for and are irrelevant to its future and do nothing to take Australia forward together”.
It comes as shocking footage of far-Right protesters gesturing with Nazi salutes was captured on video after hundreds of rallygoers and counter-protesters faced off for more than four hours.
Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich labelled the Nazi salutes as “profoundly disturbing.”
“Most would have watched in horror and would have been deeply outraged to see marchers openly throw Nazi salutes and proudly display SS signs,” he said.
“I am profoundly disturbed.
“It reminds us that anti-Semitism and bigotry are very much alive in Australia in 2019, and that extremists are trying to insert their dangerous ideology into our streets.”
‘FINAL SOLUTION’ SENATOR SLAMMED
Twice-dumped Senator Fraser Anning is under fire for joining far-Right wing extremists at a wild protest in St Kilda on Saturday.
He praised the event on Facebook and posted a video of himself with United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell.
The controversial crossbencher claimed “Australia has had enough”.
“I think this is the start of something bigger. The revolution will eventually start,” he said.
“This rally is Australian people showing their disgust with the Australian government for allowing garbage like these Sudanese thugs coming into our country and … attacking us in our own country.
“There’s a lot of good Australians who are completely sick and tired of our governments bringing in people that bludge off us and attack us in the streets.”
But outraged colleagues have blasted Senator Anning — who used the Nazi phrase “final solution” in parliament — saying his actions make him unfit for parliament.
The Government should refuse to take Fraser Anning’s vote in the Senate after he has shown again he is unfit to be in the Parliament. Hanging out and supporting with neo-nazi who are inciting violence is inexcusable.
— Sarah Hanson-Young💚 (@sarahinthesen8) January 5, 2019
“The government should refuse to take Fraser Anning’s vote. Hanging out and supporting with neo-Nazis who are inciting violence is inexcusable,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young tweeted.
Labor MP Tim Watts said racist behaviour can’t be tolerated.
“Around 100 neo-Nazis, white nationalists and racial supremacists rallied in St Kilda accompanied by an Australian Senator,” he wrote.
Today, around 100 neo-Nazis, white nationalists and racial supremacists rallied in St Kilda accompanied by an Australian Senator.
— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) January 5, 2019
We should take these racists and fascists seriously.
They hate the diverse,... https://t.co/Eqw53AILX5
Fellow crossbencher Derryn Hinch said Senator Anning’s behaviour was “repugnant”.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan slammed the rally, releasing a statement condemning it “in strongest possible terms”.
“There is no place for such rallies in Australia,” he said. “All Australians have a right to protest peacefully, it is one of the great freedoms we enjoy.
“It is, however, never acceptable for people to act or conduct themselves in ways that are likely to, or intended to, inflame and incite racial fear and tensions, hatred and violence.”
ARRESTS, UGLY BEHAVIOUR AT EXTREMIST RALLY
At least three men were arrested and pepper spray deployed as protesters clashed when about 100 right-wing activists turned up to the event.
A further 100 from the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism turned up to voice their views.
Both groups combined were outnumbered by police.
Capsicum spray was unleashed to quell disobedient protesters and at least three people were arrested.
Members of the riot squad, the public order response team, the dog squad and uniformed police saturated Catani gardens in St Kilda.
Police conducted bag and weapons checks in the area.
Supt Silva said he was generally pleased with the behaviour of the crowd of hundreds gathered on St Kilda foreshore on Saturday afternoon.
He would not disclose how many officers were patrolling the area, but said there were “ample police” to control the situation, including members from the riot squad, canine unit, mounted branch and air and water police.
Supt Silva said both the far-right and far-left protesters gathered had been as “noisy and meaningful” as each other.
“It was a fairly large gathering with about 300 people on both sides,” he said.
“I hope the public feel reassured we had this under control, I certainly felt we had it under control.”
Cottrell and co-organiser Neil Erikson in 2017 were convicted and fined for inciting contempt and ridicule of Muslims by making a video in which they beheaded a dummy with a toy sword in a protest against the building of the Bendigo mosque. Cottrell is appealing.
Police and the mounted brigade are attempting to get people off the road. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/OLabcOpzXS
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) January 5, 2019
Protesters have been clashing for more than two hours now in St Kilda @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/1UQ4ymB3oI
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) January 5, 2019
St Kilda protest between clashing groups has spilled out onto the Esplanade. Air wing, dog squad mounted brigade, riot police all on scene @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/aflMnFZEni
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) January 5, 2019
The pair claimed the rally was a response to recent incidents in which youths have mugged people along the bay.
Erikson last week confronted a group of young men of African background who were playing soccer at St Kilda, prompting police intervention.
St Kilda and nearby Caulfield, areas with high Jewish populations, have also experienced a wave of anti-Semitic vandalism.
MORE NEWS: FIREFIGHTERS ‘SHAKEN’ AFTER BRUSH WITH BUSHFIRE
SPORTS APP FOLDS, OWING BIG BUCKS TO CREDITORS
WAIT GOES ON FOR BIG FOUR TO BE DETHRONED
‘Angels’: Hero Coles workers save mum’s life
A mother of three has opened up on how her life was saved after she suddenly collapsed while doing a routine supermarket shop.
Wildlife and traffic fears over music festival
Wildlife advocates fear a weekend music festival in central Victoria will endanger native animals including rescued joeys.