Katter senator condemned for using Nazi term in speech about muslim immigration

A Queensland crossbench senator has caused outrage in parliament after delivering a speech calling for a ban on Muslims.

Fraser Anning, who is a member of Katter’s Australia party and former member of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party, used his first speech in parliament to call for Australia to return to a “European Christian” immigration system. He also used the term “the final solution”, a term used in Nazi Germany to describe the mass killing of Jewish people.

“I believe that immigration to our country should be a privilege, not an obligation,” he told the Upper House. “We as a nation are entitled to insist that those who are allowed to come here predominantly reflect the historic European-Christian composition of Australian society. Those who come here need to assimilate and integrate.”

He also called for a plebiscite to allow Australians to decide whether they want non-English speaking immigrants from the third-world and whether they want Muslims to enter the country. Anning also said Australia should return to the predominately European immigration policy of the pre-Whitlam consensus. A White Australia policy restricted non-European immigration in Australia from 1901 to the late ‘60s.

During his speech, he also said his reasons for wanting to end further Muslim immigration were self-evident.

“The record of Muslims who have already come to this country in terms of rates of crime, welfare dependency and terrorism are the worst of any migrant and vastly exceed another immigrant group,” he explained. “The majority of Muslims in Australia of working age do not work and exist on welfare. Muslims in New South Wales and Victoria are three times more likely than other groups to be convicted of crimes.

“We have black African Muslim gangs terrorising Melbourne, we have Isis-sympathising Muslims trying to go overseas to try and fight for Isis and while all Muslims are not terrorists, certainly all terrorists these days are Muslims.”

Anning suggested that all immigrants be banned from receiving welfare for the first five years they arrive in Australia, before making his Nazi comments.

““The final solution to the immigration problem, of course, is a popular vote,” he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemned Anning’s speech.

“Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world built on a foundation of mutual respect,” he tweeted. “We reject and condemn racism in any form.”

Well said Alan. Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world built on a foundation of mutual respect. We reject and condemn racism in any form. https://t.co/RHslbs1FNs

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) August 14, 2018

MP Alan Tudge also slammed Anning for his controversial comments.

“Fraser Anning’s comments on immigration do not reflect the views of the Government nor the views of fair minded Australians,” he said. “We will always maintain a non-discriminatory immigration program.”

Fraser Anning’s comments on immigration do not reflect the views of the Government nor the views of fair minded Australians. We will always maintain a non-discriminatory immigration program.

— Alan Tudge (@AlanTudge_) August 14, 2018

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said Anning overstepped the mark with his comments.

“His comments are unacceptable, they’re insensitive, they’re ignorant, their divisive and they’re very hurtful,” he said on Wednesday’s episode of Sunrise. “Particularly using the term ‘Final Solution’.

Energy Minister @JoshFrydenberg says @fraser_anning’s comments on Muslim migration and a ‘final solution’ are “unacceptable, insensitive, ignorant, divisive and very hurtful’’. pic.twitter.com/YnnPV2d2WJ

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 14, 2018

“As we know, the Nazi killing machine was responsible for the deaths of more than 10 million people, including 1.5 million Jewish children.”

Labor has also slammed the comments, with Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Shayne Neumann releasing a statement.

“Labor condemns the views expressed by Senator Fraser Anning in the strongest possible terms and his attempts to undermine and attack Australia’s non-discriminatory immigration policy,” he said. “Over the past 40 years, migrants have helped build Australia into the strong, vibrant, and multicultural society it is today contributing to our shared society and economy regardless of their background.”

There are now calls for Anning to apologise for his speech.

Have you been following this story? Did Anning go too far with his comments?