Peter Dutton sparks furious backlash over comments on Lebanese-Muslim

IMMIGRATION Minister Peter Dutton sparked outrage by suggesting the Fraser government was wrong to allow refugees to migrate to Australia.

Peter Dutton is facing a backlash online over his latest controversial remarks on refugees.

PETER Dutton has copped a backlash online over his latest controversial remarks on refugees.

Speaking in parliament during Question Time yesterday, the Immigration Minister suggested Malcolm Fraser’s government made a mistake in bringing Lebanese refugees to Australia in the 1970s.

“The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese-Muslim background,” he said.

In an interview with Sky News last week Mr Dutton said: “The reality is Malcolm Fraser did make mistakes in bringing some people in the 1970s and we’re seeing that today.

“We need to be honest in having that discussion. There was a mistake made.

“Lessons from past migrant programs should be learnt for people settling in Australia today.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has called on Peter Dutton to apologise.

The minister’s comments have sparked a furious backlash.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten issued a statement calling on Mr Dutton to apologise for his remarks.

“Enough is enough,” Mr Shorten said.

“Our hardworking migrant communities shouldn’t have to tolerate this kind of ignorant stupidity and he needs to immediately apologise.

“It’s time for Malcolm Turnbull to show some leadership and pull his Immigration Minister into line.”

Labor MP Tim Watts took to social media to condemn the minister, deeming his comments “extraordinary”.

“The Minister for Immigration seems to think that criminal behaviour by ‘second and third generation migrants’ (AKA ‘Australians’, AKA the grandchildren of migrants) is attributable to immigration policy,” he wrote on Facebook.

Twitter users were also quick to fire up over the remarks.

I immigrated to 🇦🇺 from 🇱🇧 when Mr Fraser was PM. I'm not a "mistake." I'm a proud Australian Lebanese Muslim. Shame on you, @PeterDutton_MP

— Sam Bazzi (@sambazzi63) November 21, 2016

Malcolm Turnbull's silence over Peter Dutton's attack on Australia's Lebanese community speaks volumes. Racist & cowardly

— Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) November 21, 2016

My dad immigrated to Australia from Lebanon when Malcolm Fraser was PM. @PeterDutton_MP's racist comments are deeply offensive. #qt

— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) November 21, 2016

Mr Dutton is yet to address the criticism.