Leaked audio reveals Fraser Anning’s speech was a deliberate attempt to drum up outrage
A SECRET audio recording has revealed the real reason Fraser Anning made a Nazi reference in his controversial maiden speech.
A LEAKED audio tape has revealed Fraser Anning’s maiden speech was deliberately designed to be controversial and build his profile.
The audio, obtained by Sky News, reveals that former One Nation State Secretary Jim Savage met with Anning months ago, and advised him to “Hit a nerve” with the public.
“We told Fraser months ago, we had a meeting with him... we said... when you make your maiden speech Fraser, you gotta get up there and say something really controversial,” says Savage in the recording.
“Hit that f**king nerve, otherwise you’ll be forgotten, no one will know who you are. We told him to do that, and that’s exactly what he did.
“He’s out there on TV this morning - I gotta let him know... hold your f**king nerve... don’t start apologisng and say, ‘Oh yeah, I shouldn’t have done that’ - hold your f**king nerve.”
Evidently, his advice was well-received — Anning invoked Nazi Germany in his maiden speech on Tuesday night, sparking a massive public backlash after he used the phrase “Final Solution” while calling for an immigration ban.
READ MORE: The truth about Fraser Anning’s racist first speech
READ MORE: Why phrase ‘Final Solution’ sparked a backlash
His adviser Richard McGilvray has resigned over the backlash to the senator’s maiden speech.
In a social media post, Mr McGilvray said the Katter’s Party senator’s use of the term “Final Solution” was not something he’d been made aware of prior to the Tuesday night speech.
“I do not condone Senator Anning’s speech. His reference to ‘the Final Solution’ was not something I had seen, heard of, or discussed prior to his remarks last night and as a consequence, within hours of Senator Anning’s speech, I resigned my position effective immediately,” he said.
He took to live television yesterday morning to defend his remarks, which were widely condemned by politicians, commentators and the general public.
“I think that we can’t take the risk of bringing people into this country that commit crimes like the Bourke Street massacre or the one we just saw in London today,” he said on Today. “I think we have to protect Australian citizens.”
When he was asked about using the Nazi term “Final Solution” in his speech yesterday, he said he “didn’t even think” about whether it would be offensive.
“All I said was the final solution to the immigration problem is a vote of the Australian people,” he said. “That has nothing to do with the ‘Final Solution’, the thought police got onto that.
“For everyone to take it out of context is a joke and try and shut down debate.
“Good men died for our right to say whatever we want to say and use whatever words we want to use.
“If people want to take it out of context that’s entirely up to them. It was never meant to denigrate the Jewish community and it’s two words and if that offends anyone unfortunately that’s the way it has to be.
“I don’t regret anything. I’m not going to apologise or regret anything I say.”
Yesterday afternoon, Bob Katter gave a bizarre interview backing his embattled party colleague “1000 per cent”.
He told reporters the speech was “absolutely magnificent” and “solid gold”.
“You don’t have to be Albert Einstein to see that we, as a race of people, we Australians, are being buried by a mass migration program to line the pockets of the rich and powerful,” he said.
“The ALP, and more particularly, the LNP, are bringing 630,000 people from overseas, from countries with no democracy, no rule of law, no egalitarian traditions, no Judaeo-Christian traditions — 630,000 a year and they don’t go home.
“We do not want people coming in from the Middle East or North Africa unless they’re
the persecuted minorities. Why aren’t you bringing in the Sikhs? Why aren’t you bringing in the Christians? Why aren’t you bringing in the Jews?”
The speech has prompted an angry backlash from pollies, with everyone from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson condemning him for it.
Well said Alan. Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world built on a foundation of mutual respect. We reject and condemn racism in any form. https://t.co/RHslbs1FNs
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) August 14, 2018
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