Parliament unites to condemn senator’s ‘final solution’ comment

MPs from across the federal parliament have united to condemn Queensland senator Fraser Anning for ‘hate speech’.

Fraser Anning during the Greens censure motion against him. Picture: AAP.

Katter’s Australian Party senator Fraser Anning, who was elected on just 19 primary votes, was savaged almost universally by federal MPs yesterday over his first speech to parliament which referenced the Nazi-era “final solution”, called for an end to Muslim immigration and praised the White Australia policy.

MPs from across the parliament united to condemn the Queensland senator for “hate speech” and pass motions in both chambers in support of Australia’s non-discriminatory immigration policy.

Malcolm Turnbull, who leant across the table in the House of Representatives for a rare handshake with Bill Shorten, said Senator Anning’s \comments had been “justly condemned and rejected by us all”.

“We are a nation that does not define its nationality, its identity, by reference to race or religion or cultural background or ethnic background. We define ourselves by commitment to shared political values of freedom, of democracy and the rule of law,” the Prime Minister said.

Former prime minister John Howard said Senator Anning’s use of the term “final solution” was “particularly distasteful, given its horrific provenance”.

Senator Anning received just 19 first-preference votes as One ­Nation’s No 3 Senate candidate in Queensland at the 2016 election.

He was elected to parliament only after ex-One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts was disqualified for being a dual citizen. But he promptly quit the party to become an independent following a bitter fallout with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Senator Hanson, who has called for a ban on Muslim immigration and the burka, attacked Senator Anning for his “appalling ... racist” speech that “went too far”.

The Opposition Leader said it took a “pretty outrageous” person to be condemned by everyone in parliament as he warned that right-wing extremists were turning “picking on minorities” into a political artform.

“As leaders, as representatives of the Australian people, as servants of diverse communities in a great multicultural nation, we cannot stay silent in the face of ­racism,” Mr Shorten said.

“Good Australians are not just born, they can become good Australians by choice.”

KAP leader Bob Katter was a lone voice of support for Senator Anning, backing his speech “1000 per cent”, insisting it was “magnificent” and a blueprint for “everything that this country should be doing”.

“I love it. Our phones are on fire. Ninety per cent of Australia have been waiting for someone to say it and believe it,” he said.

Standing by his contentious remarks, Senator Anning compared some Muslim immigrants to “poisoned” jellybeans, in comments reminiscent of Donald Trump Jr’s likening of Syrian refugees to a bowl of poisonous Skittles.

Senator Anning also declared he would like to deport Australian-born Muslims who were ­involved in gang activities in Melbourne.

“You can definitely deport them. If you grant something you can take that privilege,” he told 3AW.

Labor’s Anne Aly, a Muslim who migrated to Australia from Egypt, delivered one of the most emotional speeches during the ­debate, saying she was “tired of fighting”.

“I’m tired of having to stand up against hate,” Dr Aly said.