Senator Fraser Anning defends decision to charge taxpayers for trip for St Kilda rally attendance

Queensland senator Fraser Anning has defended his decision to charge taxpayers for his attendance at a wild rally in St Kilda held by far-Right extremists, which saw attendees giving the Nazi salute.

Senator Fraser Anning (left), who appeared with United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell (right), at the ugly rally in St Kilda, will charge taxpayers for his flights to Melbourne.

Federal Senator Fraser Anning charged taxpayers to attend a wild rally in St Kilda on the weekend held by far-Right extremists.

MPs from both major parties have condemned the Queensland senator for going to the ugly event, which included scenes of right-wing protesters giving Nazi salutes and forced authorities to shut down the foreshore for hours.

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Senator Anning defended his decision to go to the event on Saturday, saying he will charge taxpayers for his flights to and from Melbourne because he was “on official government business”.

Senator Anning, who has previously been condemned for a racially-charged speech in parliament calling for a “final solution” to the immigration problem, also denied any of the right-wing extremists were involved in pro-Nazi salutes, claiming anti-racism protesters were responsible.

Senator Anning denied any of the right-wing extremists were involved in Nazi salutes. Picture: ABC News

Footage captured during the far-Right rally shows the Nazi salute. Picture: ABC News

He was filmed alongside the event organiser, United Patriots Front founder Blair Cottrell, who has criminal convictions.

The Prime Minister, Scott ­Morrison, said the “ugly racial protests” had no place in Australia, while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was now common for Right-wing extremists “to seek out attention” by picking on minorities.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Senator Anning’s appearance at the rally was “unacceptable” and a “divisive act”.

“What is particularly repugnant and abhorrent was the use of the Nazi salutes,” Mr Frydenberg said. “Australians died fighting fascism and Nazis, and those views should be confined to the dustbin of history. They have no place in Australia today.”

Victorian Liberal MP Tim Wilson said he normally did not like to validate “racist bullies” with attention, but the “ugly protests in St Kilda” needed to be condemned.

A Right-wing youth punches a set of speakers belonging to the Left. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Victorian Labor MP Peter Khalil, the first African-Australian elected to federal parliament, said far-Right activism and Nazi salutes appeared to be increasing, and Senator Anning should be condemned.

“What burns me up is that this is the same fascist ideology of hatred and violence that almost a million Australians signed up to fight against and tens of thousands of Australians (and millions worldwide) died fighting against in World War 2,” Mr Khalil said.

“What burns me up is that 74 years later an Australian Senator — Fraser Anning a member of the Federal Parliament — joined the right wing extremists that threw Nazi salutes and praised them.”

NSW Liberal MP Jason Falinksi said he couldn’t believe an elected politician would attend the event: “To say it is disappointing is an understatement.”

United Patriots Front supporters clash with police. Picture: Matrix News

A ute passing by with an anti-racist chant playing is surrounded by opposing far-Right protesters. Picture: Sarah Matray

“One of the reasons we have been so successful as a nation is where we have had differences, we’ve managed to conduct debates and those differences in a civil way and understand people on the other side are human beings well,” Mr Falinksi said.

Senator Anning said Queensland was starting to experience a similar problem to Melbourne with African gangs, and he went to the rally to voice his concern about Australia’s “non-discriminatory immigration policy” and weak law enforcement policies.

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“As far as I’m concerned, I am a federal senator, I’m there on government business,” he told the Herald Sun.

“I didn’t go down there for a party — I went down there in the morning and came back in the afternoon.”

Senator Anning said he had nothing to do with Nazi-sympathisers, describing himself as a huge supporter of Israel and the Jewish community.

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