Minister quotes propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels to attack Labor in a speech about systemic racism

The Territory’s Multicultural Affairs Minister has defended a speech where he compared the Labor Opposition to a Nazi propaganda chief.

The Territory’s Multi-Cultural Affairs Minister Jinson Charls has defended a speech where he quoted a Nazi propagandist and claimed that ‘healing wounds’ of historic racism was ‘making new ones’. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Territory’s Multicultural Affairs Minister has defended a speech attacking the Labor Opposition where he quoted a Nazi propagandist and social Darwinism and claimed that “healing wounds” of historic racism was “making new ones”.

Minister Jinson Charls defended his speech to the Territory parliament during a debate on systemic racism.

Independent politician Yingiya Guyula tabled a motion calling for the Territory to reaffirm its obligations to prevent racism and racial discrimination, and to co-design an anti-discrimination strategy in line with the National Anti-Racism Framework.

Mr Guyula, a Yolngu man representing the remote electorate of Mulka, said he felt the Territory was becoming an increasingly “fractured” community due to a rise in racism.

“As an Aboriginal person in Darwin—I do not want to say this — but I am sad to say there is a strong feeling that I am no longer welcome here,” Mr Guyula said.

“This is the feeling in many towns on the Stuart Highway.”

Independent politician Yingiya Guyula tabled a motion calling for the Territory to reaffirm its obligations to prevent racism and racial discrimination. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Deputy Opposition leader Dheran Young supported Mr Guyula’s motion calling it a “practical framework” which was already in line with the bipartisan Aboriginal Justice Agreement.

The CLP amended Mr Guluya’s motion to instead address “all forms of racism” and to recognise “the government’s role in preventing discrimination and supporting the Territory’s harmonious multicultural community” — with all references to Aboriginal Territorians, or the National Anti-Racism Framework removed.

During the debate the CLP’s Multicultural Affairs minister accused the Labor Opposition of repeating “things that are false (to) stir emotions”.

“There is an old saying: tell a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. It is not my line; it was a method used by Joseph Goebbels, a propaganda architect in dark days of history,” Mr Charls said.

“This is, sadly, the method Labor is now using in this Chamber, in public discourse and in political strategy.”

The Territory’s Equality Minister Jinson Charls has defended a speech where he quoted a Nazi propagandist and claimed that ‘healing wounds’ of historic racism was ‘making new ones’. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Indian Australian politician told the parliament that “misleading claims” were being spread, and warned against anyone being treated as though they had “special rank”.

“When that happens, when one group starts believing they are gatekeepers, the poison of racism spreads further,” Mr Charls said.

“When a government tells one race that they are better or deserve more, it is not healing wounds; it is making new ones.

“I do not support racism in any form — none — and I am not afraid to name it, call it out and challenge it, no matter where it hides or how it is dressed up.”

The Multicultural Minister said his thinking about race relations was shaped by the “survival of the fittest”.

“This is from science. Charles Darwin’s survival of the fittest theory is a well-known theory from long ago, It still rings true in many ways,” Mr Charls told the parliament.

“People are born with different strengths and talents and not all parts are equal; not all people can do the same things.

“That is not wrong; that is nature. A strong education system helps people find their strength and follow it.”

Independent member for Johnston Justine Davis. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Outside of parliament Independent member for Johnston Justine Davis said as a Jewish woman it was “deeply concerning” to hear references to Hitler’s propaganda chief and to Social Darwinism, a theory she said was historically “twisted to justify eugenics and discrimination”.

Ms Davis said she was concerned that the Multicultural Affairs Minister could not engage in a national conversation on racism without referencing to “fascist propaganda strategies and pseudoscientific rationalisations for inequality”.

“Territorians are right to question whether he is fit to lead this important portfolio,” she said.

On Thursday, Opposition leader Selena Uibo also said Mr Charls’s comments showed he was “unfit to serve”.

“In a discussion on eradicating racism, he invoked Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ theory and likened the Labor Opposition to the Nazis – this is appalling behaviour on many levels from someone whose job is to champion equality and inclusion in our community,” Ms Uibo said.

Opposition leader Selena Uibo also said Mr Charls’s comments showed he was “unfit to serve”. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

As Opposition Leader, Lia Fionocchiaro was highly critical when Police Minister Brent Potter’s deleted 2014 posts included a meme quoting Nazi general Erwin Rommel re-emerged last year.

Following the backlash, Mr Charls said he defended “every word” of his speech and his reference to Goebbels was to highlight a “strategy” he had witnessed for “more than a decade”.

“I call out racism, there are racist people in every culture and in every group of people,” Mr Charls said.

“There is no perfect race, and that’s part of the world that we are living in.”

His statement comes as the NT Government has signalled changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act removing vilification protections, which would leave the NT as the only place in Australia without any protections against hate speech.

The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission, Melaleuca Australia, the Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory. alongside unions, LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups, social services and faith based groups have opposed any changes to the ADA.

A letter signed by 28 Territory organisations was sent to the Chief Minister on Monday warning that the proposed changes would “send us backwards, stripping vulnerable Territorians of protections and wilfully exposing them to hate speech and discrimination”.