PM says Australians should look at ‘motivations’ of those behind character attacks

Prominent Lebanese leaders in Sydney have defended Scott Morrison’s record as a ‘uniting force’ in their community amid refuted allegations he used ‘racial vilification’ to discredit a political opponent.

Prominent Lebanese leaders in Sydney have defended Scott Morrison’s record as a “uniting force” in their community amid refuted allegations he used “racial vilification” to discredit a political opponent.

On the eve of the federal election, Liberal figures are furious the Prime Minister’s standing in multicultural marginal seats may be damaged by claims he told party members not to preselect Michael Towke in the seat of Cook in 2007, because his then-rival was from a Lebanese family and might be a Muslim.

Labor has already moved to capitalise on the allegations as part of the Opposition’s campaign on Mr Morrison’s trust issues, expecting it to have an impact in key seats like Parramatta, Reid, Lindsay and Banks.

Lebanese Australian Dr Jamal Rifi told The Daily Telegraph the accusations against Mr Morrison “defy everything I have known of the man”, while i4give Day founder and father of three of the Oatlands crash victims, Danny Abdallah said the PM should be “judged on his actions, not the accusations of others”.

Mr Abdallah said he felt compelled to speak up after experiencing Mr Morrison’s support in the wake of his children’s deaths.

Danny Abdallah with his wife Leila. Mr Abdallah says he has found Prime Minister Scott Morrison to be very supportive of the Lebanese community in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

“I’m not here to tell people how to vote, but his actions – and he’s done more off the camera than on – for our family, and our community, speak louder than these words,” he said.

“I think the Lebanese community will see beyond this.”

Dr Rifi, who has frequently attended meetings between Mr Morrison and local Muslim faith leaders in Sydney and also walked the Kokoda Trail with him on a “mateship” program following the Cronulla riots, said it was “not fair” to use the Lebanese community as a political wedge.

“They are trying to get to him through our community,” he said.

Dr Jamal Rifi has also spoken out in support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s work with the Lebanese community in Australia. Picture: Tim Hunter

“People who want to oppose him on political grounds, let them do so. But they should not oppose on these divisive lines because he is not divisive to our community, he is uniting.”

Mr Towke has said he stands by a statutory declaration he made in 2016 claiming Mr Morrison had racially vilified him during the 2007 preselection battle.

Former NSW Liberal Party contender Michael Towke says he stands by a statutory declaration he made in 2016 accusing Prime Minister Scott Morrison of racial vilification during their 2007 preselection battle.

But on Sunday Mr Morrison said the claims were “simply untrue” and “deeply offensive”.

“I reject them … absolutely,” he said.

“I have always walked the walk when it has come particularly to my relationship with the Lebanese community in my home state of NSW.”

Mr Morrison blamed “bitterness” for the string of recent attacks on his character, including by other Liberal members, and asked Australians to “look at the motivations” of those speaking out.

“When people don’t get the answer they want from me, whether it’s cancelling a French submarine contract, or people who have had disappointments in their political careers … then bitterness often speaks out. And it will find … a convenient target,” he said.

The stoush comes as Sky News star Peta Credlin warned that the upcoming election would be a contest of character over policy, with the personal attacks about to get particularly intense.

NSW Government Minister David Elliot, who is a longtime ally of Mr Morrison, said the accusations of racism were “false” and “politically motivated”.

“I think it’s an attempt to discredit Scott in some of these marginal seats, but it will backfire badly because those ethnic communities know Scott full well, they know he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body,” he said.

“The electorate is wise enough to work out what’s politically motivated and what’s true.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited northern Tasmania on Sunday to spruik the Coalition’s Budget, but instead faced questions about his own preselection 15 years ago. Picture: Supplied/PMO

Asked about Mr Morrison’s denial of the 2007 allegations, Labor’s treasurer spokesman Jim Chalmers said he did not “think anybody believes the Prime Minister”.

“I don’t think people believe the Prime Minister more broadly,” he said.

Federal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar said as one of the few Australians of Lebanese descent in the parliament the felt compelled to weigh in on the reports about Mr Morrison.

“In my experience, there is no MP, let alone PM, who’s shown more support, care and respect for the Australian Lebanese community,” he said on Twitter.

Liberal member Hassan Awada, who described himself as a friend of Mr Morrison’s who also “happened to be a proud Australian from a Lebanese Muslim heritage,” joined the defence of the PM.

“I think I am qualified to have a view on these accusations against Scott,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Mr Awada said he had a “regular and ongoing relationship” with Mr Morrison, and was involved in the 2007 election though “did not vote for (Mr) Towke then”.

“Scott Morrison is not a racist,” he said.

“Throughout the years I’ve never noticed any display, suggestion or expression of any form of racism from him or his family.”

Mr Awada said he questioned why outgoing NSW Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells had only made the allegations now.

“I think the Lebanese and Muslim communities should ask Concetta why did you elect to keep silent about these aligations (sic) for many years if you are truly fighting racism,” he said.

Mr Awada said while people may “agree or disagree” with the policies of Mr Morrison and the Coalition, the allegations of racial vilification actually went to ethics and personal beliefs.

“Scott Morrison is a tolerant and a true believer in multicultural Australia,” he said.

Mr Awada said in 2007 he and Mr Morrison established an annual mosque visits program to “build a relationship with the Muslim community” in Sydney, and has been highly engaged with the local Lebanese community in the years since.

Originally published as PM says Australians should look at ‘motivations’ of those behind character attacks