Politics

Greens Senator calls Dutton a ‘racist’ in political slanging match

Mar 23, 2018

Nick McKim has come under fire for his comments.

Aussies are no strangers to a political feud, but the latest fiery spat between Greens Senator Nick McKim and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has sparked questions over where to draw the line – with many wondering, just when does firing insults take away from a fair public debate?

McKim let rip at the immigration minister recently, branding him “racist” and even accusing him of exhibiting “some of the things we know through human history are associated with fascists”.

Appearing on Sky News, he said Dutton had “exhibited racism right through his public career”, and as reporter Samantha Maiden asked if he thought Dutton was “a fascist”, he simply replied: “Yep”.

He was referring to Dutton’s controversial proposal to give fast-tracked visas to white South African farmers at risk of losing their homes, livelihoods and lives.

Dutton appeared on the Miranda Devine podcast at the time, where he detailed the “horrific” conditions white South Africans are facing in their home country after their government announced it would confiscate land from them without compensation. The comments initially sparked outrage, with everyone from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to South African officials and even outspoken activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied weighing in on the row.

Now, hitting out at the views, McKim has sparked a whole new debate. Many viewers claim he went too far, saying what could have been a fair debate, actually turned into a shocking public slanging match.

.@NickMcKim says @PeterDutton_MP is a fascist who exhibits tendencies that history has associated with fascism.

MORE: https://t.co/kQzIykWtEc #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/jpokhH07XE

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 22, 2018

One Twitter user commented: “Peter Dutton is on the money and I applaud his steadfast view. Being informed and emigrated from South Africa with family all remaining there I know the truth. Nick, unfortunately you are being discourteous in your views and talking through your hat.”

Another added: “Did he really just say that??? Cannot believe it!” And one wrote: “I’m a Green and no defender of the egregious Dutton but ‘fascist’ is a bridge too far. Fascists are defined not merely by xenophobia and authoritarianism but by their participation in extra-legal gangs targeting the marginalised. He’s an enabler and bonapartist but not there yet.”

Elsewhere, journalist Chris Kenny hit out at McKim in an opinion piece for The Australian, and said it was a bridge too far, writing: “The national political debate has become toxic, even putrid.”

He added: “Racism is the ugliest slur that can be made against another person. It is a horrendous slight that is every bit as toxic as a racial barb if it is applied against anyone other than someone about whom it is demonstrably true,” before saying: “It is as ludicrous as it is odious.”

However, some others agreed with McKim’s strong views, and sharing a list entitled: “Early warning signs of fascism”, one user wrote: “This Government’s actions increasingly match these early warning signs.” Another added: “And he’d be spot on.”

Meanwhile one wrote: “Why on earth would you look surprised at this? If you can’t see this simple point, you haven’t been paying attention,” and another added: “Oh how dare, he state the bleeding obvious.”

McKim has refused to back down from his comments, and taking to Facebook on Friday, he explained his reasons behind using the term “fascist”, citing Dutton’s past views on Manus Island and his treatment of immigrants over the years. He wrote: “It is not the first time I have done so [named him racist and fascist], and it won’t be the last.”

It comes after Greens MP Adam Bandt was forced to make a grovelling apology to Liberal senator Jim Molan last month, after he branded him a “coward” in public, and even suggested he could have committed war crimes.

In a lengthy public apology, Bandt said he would “make a donation to a veterans organisation as an expression of my sincerity over this issue.” Molan later dropped defamation claims and accepted the apology.