Australian senator Fraser Anning censured over 'ugly' Christchurch remarks about Muslims
Senator Fraser Anning was the target of widespread condemnation for blaming the Christchurch shootings on immigration policies.
Wednesday 3 April 2019 12:05, UK
An Australian senator has been censured over his "disgraceful" comments blaming the Christchurch attacks on Muslim immigration.
Senator Fraser Anning, a far-right independent, was the target of widespread condemnation for blaming the shootings which killed 50 people in New Zealand on immigration policies.
On the day of the 15 March attacks, Mr Anning said: "The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration programme that allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place."
On Wednesday, the government and opposition lawmakers condemned his "ugly and divisive" remarks.
The reprimand added that Mr Anning's views do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people.
The government's leader in the Senate, Mathias Cormann, said the comments were "dangerous and unacceptable from anyone, let alone a member of this place."
Mr Anning, 69, said the censure motion was an attack on free speech.
"It is also an exercise in left-wing virtue signalling of the worst kind," he told the Senate before the vote.
He also tweeted that he "still stands by" his comments on Muslim immigration.
"Despite all the left-wing hysteria today, no one actually argued against what I said, because it is 100% true," he said.
The censure is seen as an official condemnation despite carrying no practical punishment.
Lawmakers cannot be expelled from parliament unless they have been convicted of an offence, are bankrupt, hold other offices or are dual citizens, according to constitutional law experts.
A day after the Christchurch attacks, Mr Anning was criticised for hitting teenager Will Connolly, who had cracked a raw egg on his head in a viral incident in Melbourne.
Mr Anning lambasted Prime Minister Scott Morrison for saying he should "be subject to the full force of the law" for his retaliation to the 17-year-old.
"It might have only been an idiot with an egg this time, but there is a continuum that begins with this and ends with a fanatic with a gun or a bomb," Mr Anning said on Wednesday.
"But apparently, according to Prime Minister Morrison, that's okay, as long as the victims are conservatives."
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern called Mr Anning's comments on the Christchurch attacks a "disgrace". On Tuesday, her deputy Winston Peters called the senator a "jingoistic moron".