Malcolm Turnbull lashes One Nation staffer conduct as ‘reprehensible’, ‘disloyal’

Malcolm Turnbull attacks One Nation, labelling conduct of staffers “reprehensible”.

Malcolm Turnbull has lashed One Nation after this week’s Al Jazeera revelations about the party’s dealings with the National Rifle Association.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has attacked One Nation labelling the conduct of its senior staffers as “reprehensible” and “disloyal”.

Speaking in Hong Kong at an international banking forum Mr Turnbull said the National Rifle Association in the US also had questions to answer.

“One Nation’s conduct or the conduct of those individuals that are key members of One Nation is reprehensible, it is disloyal,” Mr Turnbull told the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference.

“The idea that an Australian political party would be going to the US seeking support from the National Rifle Association for the purpose of undermining Australia’s gun laws? ... It is the conduct, if that correctly characterises what the NRA has done –—their conduct is reprehensible as well,” Mr Turnbull said.

His comments follow broadcaster Al-Jazeera this week revealing One Nation solicited $20 million in donations from the powerful NRA.

One Nation’s chief of staff James Ashby and Queensland state leader Steve Dickson went to the US and connected with the NRA through a fake gun lobbyist, who was an undercover journalist.

Mr Turnbull said all politicians and leaders had the responsibility to shut down hate speech and islamophobia where it arises, as he called for a culture of mutual respect in public discourse.

“Politicians and leaders generally have got to recognise that we have a responsibility to defend and maintain — I’m talking about islamophia here — the culture of mutual respect in our society,” he said.

“There’s no question that the shocking attack in Christchurch was the product of an environment, supported online from an islamophoic environment and politicians and leaders have got to be resolute in opposing it,” he said.

“You will often get elements in the mainstream media that will tack very close to that … you cannot let there ever appear to be the impression that leaders are sanctioning, amplifying or conveying or going along with that type of hate filled or hateful language”.

“Not all extremist language leads to extremist violence. But that is where extremist violence begins but you’ve got to have a culture of respect,” he said.

More to come