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"Unfair": Pauline Hanson's tearful pledge after court ruling

Pauline Hanson has made an emotional pledge after the court <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/judge-rules-against-pauline-hanson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> she made racist remarks towards a fellow senator. Justice Angus Stewart found that the One Nation leader engaged in "seriously offensive" and intimidating behaviour when told Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to "piss off back to Pakistan" in a tweet, with the judge saying the message constitutes "strong racism". After the ruling, Hanson spoke to Sky News in a teary interview in which she called the Federal Court ruling “unfair and unjust”, lamenting that Australia was “not the country I grew up in”. <div> </div> “I just feel that the country’s changed so much in such a way that people can’t say what they think anymore. The thought police is out there, everyone’s shut down for having an opinion,” she said between sobs. “It’s not the country I grew up in." “People may criticise my comment, but I’ve never changed since the first day of politics nearly 30 years ago." “But I think the decision made I think was unfair, unjust and a bit hard, but I’m not going to give up, I’m going to appeal against it, I’m going to fight this.” Handing down his the decision on Friday, Justice Angus Stewart labelled the post as “an angry ad hominem attack”. He ruled the post was “reasonably likely in all the circumstances” to “offend, insult, humiliate and intimidate the applicant and groups of people, namely people of colour who are migrants to Australia or are Australians of relatively recent migrant heritage and Muslims who are people of colour in Australia”. Justice Stewart found that Senator Hanson’s post was motivated by “the race, colour or national or ethnic origin” of Senator Faruqi, and her response was not made in good faith as a fair comment on a matter of public interest. “Senator Hanson’s tweet was merely an angry ad hominem attack devoid of discernible content (or comment) in response to what Senator Faruqi had said,” Justice Stewart said. Image credits: Sky News

Legal

Airline bans couple after racist row over reclined seat

Two travellers have been banned from Cathay Pacific flights after an argument over seat etiquette descended into racist insults. The incident occurred on a flight from Hong Kong to London, with a woman documenting her experience in a video posted on Xiaohongshu, China's version of Instagram. The woman, from mainland China, explained, "The lady sitting behind me asked me to put my seat up because it was blocking her husband's view of the TV. I politely declined, and she started stretching her feet onto my armrest, kicking my arm and cursing at me like crazy." A flight attendant stepped in to find a solution to the issue, but when the woman continued to refuse to put her chair up, the situation only escalated. "When (the female passenger) realised my Cantonese wasn't so great, she started throwing around some nasty comments, calling me a 'Mainland girl' and other derogatory stuff," the woman said, explaining how people from Hong Kong speak mainly Cantonese, whereas mainland Chinese mainly speak Mandarin. "Once I started recording, the husband behind me even shoved his hand on my armrest and started shaking it like crazy. I felt my personal space had been completely violated," added the woman, who said other passengers then intervened. In footage of the incident uploaded by the woman, a female voice can be heard saying in Mandarin: "You're old enough — why are you bullying a young girl?" And others can be heard shouting in Cantonese: "You're embarrassing us Hongkongers!" "After some passengers spoke up for me, the flight attendant finally said I could switch seats. I felt it was absurd—what if no one had backed me up? Would I have just been left to deal with it on my own?" the passenger said. "As a major airline, isn't Cathay supposed to know how to handle such disputes? Shouldn't treating passengers differently get some consequences? In a statement released Saturday, Cathay Pacific said it wanted to "sincerely apologise" for the "unpleasant experience," with the airline saying, "We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that violates aviation safety regulations or disrespects the rights of other customers." "We will deny future travel on any Cathay Group flights to the two customers involved in this incident." Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Q+A viewers stunned by "blatantly racist" question

A controversial question about the value of multiculturalism in Australia sparked a wave of heated backlash during a recent episode of ABC’s Q+A, with many questioning how such a query was allowed to air in the first place. The incident occurred on Monday night when audience member Jenny Carrol voiced her skepticism about the benefits of multiculturalism. Carrol claimed that the culture of the "original British/Irish majority" in Australia had been "demonised" over the past three decades. She cited the frequent vandalism of Captain Cook memorials as an example, questioning how democracy could function in what she described as an environment of "beating up the white guy". “Case in point," said Carrol. "Frequent vandalism of memorials to Captain Cook. How does democracy fit into this atmosphere of beat up the white guy?” she asked, later adding Captain Cook was “just doing a job”. The question immediately drew strong reactions, including a firm rebuttal from Youth Minister Anne Aly. Aly, who responded that multiculturalism is "the character of our nation", stated that it is not a policy that was imposed but rather an intrinsic part of Australia's identity. "Take a look around you. We are multicultural. It’s who we are," Aly responded during the live broadcast, noting that multiculturalism has brought "immense benefits" to the country. Aly, who migrated to Australia from Egypt as a child, highlighted the resilience and strength that diversity brings to democracy, rejecting the notion that the contributions of the British heritage are being undermined. The exchange also ignited a firestorm on social media, with many criticising the show's producers for allowing what they viewed as a "blatantly racist" question to be aired. One user remarked, "Slow clap to the producers for allowing a blatantly racist question be aired," while another questioned the vetting process, stating, "If that question was vetted then I’d like to know who’s doing the vetting." Dr Aly's response was widely praised online, with many applauding her for addressing the underlying racism still present in Australia. Adding to the discussion, Australian National University Professor George Brandis KC, a former Attorney-General and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, asserted that it is possible to celebrate Australia’s multiculturalism without disrespecting its British heritage. Brandis expressed his frustration over the vandalism of Captain Cook statues, suggesting that rather than being ashamed of their British roots, Australians should take pride in them. “We want to be the best multicultural society that we can be," he said. "On the other hand, that doesn’t – at least to my mind – involve disrespecting the British heritage, which was a very important framing set of values for modern Australia. When we think of our legal system, our parliamentary institutions, our system of government, our commercial practices. “So many of the fundamental features of Australian society we owe to our British heritage. And rather than be ashamed of that, we should be proud of that ... It infuriates me when people vandalise statues of Captain Cook, and it angers me as much as I’m sure it angers you.” On the other hand, US author and New York Times best-seller Roxane Gay provided a different perspective, stating that Australia’s history is not complicated. Gay argued that acknowledging the injustices faced by First Nations people and immigrants does not equate to oppression of the British majority. She also criticised Carrol’s defence of Captain Cook, arguing that "doing a job" does not justify immoral actions. “Just because something is your job doesn’t mean you should do it," she said, “You have the power to say ‘No, perhaps I won’t steal this land’." The episode also featured a discussion on youth voting rights, with Professor of Politics at the University of Cambridge David Runciman advocating for lowering the voting age to as young as six years old. Runciman argued that if children are held to the same standards of responsibility as adults, they should also have the right to vote. This sparked a debate on the potential implications of such a move, with some panellists, including Minister Aly, noting the importance of engaging youth in politics through other means rather than solely focusing on lowering the voting age. The Q+A episode has since sparked a broader conversation on the state of multiculturalism in Australia, the legacy of British colonialism, and the role of youth in the country’s democratic processes. Image: ABC

Calls to change "racist" beach name

There are calls to rename Chinamans Beach in Sydney due to its "racist" connotations. The popular beach in Mosman has long been in the centre of debate around the use of the term Chinaman. Chinese Australian Osmond Chiu is determined to have the name of the beach changed, saying that the word is often used as a racist slur. “The term ‘Chinaman’ is derogatory and primarily used as a racist slur against people of Chinese or East Asian appearance,” Chiu told the Mosman Collective. “It is jarring to have a place named ‘Chinamans Beach’ in the city that I was born and grew up in as if there is nothing wrong with it. “We would never name a place or even refer to someone as a ‘Chinaman’ today, which speaks volumes about the term.” The beach's name is associated with nearby market gardens that was run by people from the Chinese community during the 1800s. According to SBS, a man named Cho Hi Tick leased the land and created the market gardens back in the day. And Chiu suggests that it should be named after Tick. “While it may be uncomfortable for some people, this is about having an open and frank discussion about the term [Chinaman] and its history,” he added. However, Sophie-Loy Wilson, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Sydney believes that the beach was previously called Rosherville Beach before it was renamed in 1977 to reflect the Chinese fishermen who liked to go fishing in the surrounding areas. “Before the advent of refrigeration, Chinese fishermen were very important in Australia because they understood how to cure, smoke and preserve fish,” she said. The push to change the beach's name has been an ongoing battle, and last year Western Australia Labor MP Pierre Yang called for a change for places with the word “Chinaman” in their names. There are around 300 spots around Australia with the word "Chinaman" in it. Yang told the Legislative Council in June 2023 that Chinaman is a “racist term, derogatory and contemptuous in nature”. “In 21st century multicultural Australia and multicultural WA, this word is no longer acceptable, and that’s why we don’t hear this word often," Yang said. However, many are also defending the current name, including a few residents of Chinese descent. “Nothing racist about it in my opinion – no negative connotations. It’s a beautiful beach named after beautiful people – no dramas,” one person wrote on Instagram. “It’s becoming more ridiculous all the time! What else will we need to change and deny from the past? It’s a beautiful beach. why would that offend anyone?” another wrote. Another second-generation Chinese Australian said that the name is not offensive, “and in fact, I’m currently based in Singapore living on a street called Cantonment Road – which means the same bloody thing. "We need to own and accept our history, both the good and bad. And stop trying to rewrite it." “I am of Chinese descent and I don’t find anything derogatory about it,” another added. A Mosman Council spokesperson told news.com.au that renaming places and localities is a matter for the NSW Geographical Names Board (GNB). “Council is not aware of any future renaming plans,” the spokesperson said. The GNB also said that they have not received a proposal to rename or dual name Chinamans Beach. Images: Shutterstock

Legal

“I’m sick of it": Boy's heartbreaking plea after racist abuse

An Anawain Gamilaroi woman has demanded change after her nine-year-old nephew was left crushed by racist abuse that he allegedly experienced at AFL training. Shaylee Matthews shared the heartbreaking video of Jarmilles breaking down in a car on LinkedIn. The young boy was still wearing his team jersey and was in tears as he repeated the racist abuse that was allegedly targeted towards him. "I hate it when you call me Black," he said through tears. "I hate when you call me monkey. It's got to stop." "I'm sick of this. I don't want there to be racism. I'm sick of it. It needs to be over." When asked if he was okay, Jarmilles replied: "No. I want to go home and go to bed now." Matthews, who works for the ACT government, said the video exposes the "harsh reality" of racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. “This post and videos shared is of my 9 soon to be 10 year old nephew’s experience at AFL training (playing a game he loves) which highlights the harsh reality of racism that persists in our society, especially during National Reconciliation Week (with the theme being Now More Than Ever),” she said. “It’s a call to action for us all to confront privilege, challenge learned racism, and dismantle the systemic issues that perpetuate injustice for Indigenous youth.” "The hurtful comments and behaviours faced by Jarmilles not only reflect individual ignorance but also contribute to larger systemic inequalities," she added. She then called for the public to use Reconciliation Week as an opportunity to fight racism and advocate for change. "We must advocate for change, demand accountability, and ensure that all children, regardless of their background, are treated with dignity and respect," she said. "By standing in solidarity, raising our voices, and actively working towards a more just and inclusive society, we can create a future where every child feels safe, valued, and supported. "Let's turn this moment of pain into a catalyst for meaningful change and a brighter tomorrow for all our children." Image: LinkedIn/ news.com.au

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Racist street name set to change

The name of a street in northern NSW is set to be changed after an Uber driver stumbled across it and alerted locals to its racist background. Byron Shire Council announced that Hottentot Crescent in Mullumbimby, will soon be renamed Moonlight Close, after the council deemed Hottentot - a racist term for Indigenous South Africans - no longer appropriate for use. Jonny Simons, a local man who moved to Australia from South Africa in the 1980s, was the first person to petition for the name change back in November, after the Uber driver tipped him off. He garnered 383 signatures in the petition, but not all residents and community members supported the change. Last year, there were 12 submissions from past and present residents objecting to the council's name change proposal. One resident insisted on keeping the name saying: “My understanding is that our street name was chosen decades ago, after a tree, the Hottentot Bean Tree (Schotia Brachypetala). Never in my time as a resident here, have I heard another person ever relate the street name in regards to a racial slur." “While I appreciate the concerns raised, it is essential to acknowledge that names can change in meaning and connotation over the years. “Altering the street name would greatly impact residents and the council long term with endless administrative changes and potential financial costs.” However, five other submissions were in favour of the change, with one writing: “a racial slur is a racial slur even if a tree is named after it. As much as I loved the sound of the name, it has to go.” A few other names were put forward, including Drunken Parrot Place - named after a nearby tree full of lorikeets getting drunk in spring and summer - but the council ultimately decided on Moonlight Close. In November, following community consultation, the council’s director of infrastructure services Phillip Holloway, recommended the name change “on the basis that there is more lasting value in trying to minimise the type of hurt this particular name could cause some people over the long term", over avoiding costs to the residents in the short term. He added that many of the residents were unaware of the racist connotation of the name "beyond naming the relevant tree", and that "the tree name itself is racially loaded" because it is linked to the slur used towards the Khoisan people "who used the tree for food during South Africa’s colonisation.” Simons, who petitioned for the change, said he doesn't hold anything against the residents who were against the name change as "they didn't know what it meant". "They thought it was the name of a tree, but that tree was named as such because the Khoisan people of South Africa ate the fruit of that tree," he said. Image: Google Maps

Legal

Laura Tingle under fire after declaring Australia "a racist country"

One of the ABC's most senior journalists Laura Tingle has caused outrage after declaring Australia is "a racist country". The political reporter made the claims while speaking on a panel at the Sydney Writer's Festival on Sunday at an event hosted by former ABC TV Insiders host and Labor staffer Barrie Cassidy. Her comments were in response to the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's pledge to slash permanent migration to just 140,000 a year, as well as the ABC's coverage of the war in Gaza. <div> <div>“We are a racist country, let’s face it," she said. We always have been, and it’s very depressing.”</div> </div> “The Opposition Leader has opened the doors to migrants being blamed not just for housing shortages but for all these other problems, too,” she added. On Sunday, Tingle said that after listening to Dutton's pledge, she “had this sudden flash of people turning up to try and rent a property or at an auction and they look a bit different – whatever you define different as – [and] that basically (Dutton) has given them licence to be abused, and in any circumstance where people feel like they’re missing out”. Her comments have prompted outrage among senators, with Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price saying she is "really disappointed" by Tingle's comments. “This continued narrative … is being pushed within our country that does not provide any sense of pride for our children,” she said. “It absolutely creates division. We had enough of it during the [Indigenous Voice] referendum and leading journalists, well, supposedly leading journalists, like Laura Tingle should know better than to use that sort of rhetoric.” Price said the comments reflected Tingle’s opinion, rather than being a reflection of the whole country, as she also accused Tingle of political bias against Dutton, saying it reflected poorly on the ABC. “Laura has demonstrated her bias and I think [ABC chair] Kim Williams needs to explain why having someone so blatantly partisan sitting in the top political commentator position is acceptable.” Elsewhere, Albanese government minister Tanya Plibersek also took issue with Tingle’s comments. “I think it’s a fantastic multicultural country but we have to protect against incidents of racism which occur in our community as they do in every community,” Plibersek told Seven’s Sunrise on Monday. Following Tingle's comments, ABC board members have had emergency discussions over their colleague, after the Coalition on Monday demanded the public broadcaster explain Tingle’s weekend claims. Image credits: LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Pauline Hanson sued over racially insensitive tweet

Pauline Hanson has been taken to court over a racially insensitive tweet aimed at Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, with Hanson's lawyers claiming she was merely responding to Faruqi's "provocative" comments. In 2022, Hanson sent a public message on Twitter to Ms Faruqi, telling her to "pack (her) bags and piss off back to Pakistan". Hanson's outburst was prompted by a post by Faruqi following the Queen's death, in which she wrote she could not mourn the passing of the leader of a "racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples". Senator Mehreen Faruqi is suing the One Nation leader in the Federal Court over alleged racist discrimination, with the trial beginning on Monday. Faruqi's barrister Saul Holt KC said the "demeaning and insulting" tweet was targeted towards his client as a Muslim woman of colour who had migrated to Australia, adding that such language from a public figure was extremely damaging to Faruqi and other migrants. Holt went on to say that the tweet was part of a pattern of racially insensitive behaviour from Hanson, saying the public message was "pernicious and deeply harmful". "A tweet of this kind in the Twittersphere, the dogwhistle doesn't just stand on its own," Holt said. Faruqi is seeking court orders that the One Nation leader donate $150,000 to a charity of the Greens senator's choice. Hanson's barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC called the lawsuit "unmeritorious", arguing her client had responded to an offensive tweet by the Greens senator which was designed to provoke a response. "The wording used by my client ... is directed to Senator Faruqi and Senator Faruqi alone," Chrysanthou said. Chrysanthou went on to say Faruqi's comments were hypocritical, given that she had previously sworn an oath of allegiance to the former monarch when she became an Australian senator. Ms Faruqi is due to appear in the witness box as the trial continues. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Sam Kerr’s alleged comments may have had a racial element, but they were not ‘racist’

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mario-peucker-192086">Mario Peucker</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a> Footballer Sam Kerr has been charged with “racially aggravated harassment” over a January 2023 incident in which she allegedly insulted a London police officer. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/06/sam-kerr-allegedly-called-police-officer-a-stupid-white-bastard-source-says">widespread media reports</a>, she is said to have called the officer a “stupid white bastard”. Kerr has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/sam-kerr-legal-team-reportedly-challenge-allegations-of-police-harassment/744598ef-75f9-4e03-acb5-7b37aecde8d1">reportedly denied</a> using the word “bastard”. According to section 33 of the British Crime and Disorder Act, to be found guilty of such an offence, the conduct would have had to cause – or have intended to cause – alarm or distress. Regardless of the court’s ultimate verdict, one big question seems to occupy the minds of many: does the phrase attributed to Kerr constitute racism? Kerr was born in Western Australia, and has Indian ancestry on her father’s side. Can she be racist towards a white person, and more specifically to a white police officer? Assuming it is true Kerr used the term “white”, there is a racial element. But “racial” is not the same as “racist”. <h2>Definitions of racism</h2> It is important to note here that “race” is not a biological category (there is only one human race). Race is a <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/">social construct</a>, invented and cemented centuries ago to legitimise colonial atrocities, oppression and forms of subjugation including slavery. There are many definitions of racism, but there has been a broad consensus for decades that racism is more than “just” prejudice and discriminatory behaviour. It is not simply a matter of less favourable treatment of an individual or group of people based on their actual or ascribed ethnic background, skin colour, origin or related characteristics. Racism also reflects and manifests as systemic exclusion and marginalisation based on historically rooted power imbalances and racial hierarchies that put white people at the top. To put it very simply, the scholarly (if not the legal) definition is that “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-07453-002">racism equals power plus prejudice</a>”. In a vicious cycle, everyday racism and discrimination are shaped and justified by racial hierarchies, while they operate continuously in a way that cements power imbalances and racial marginalisation. This may sound a bit abstract, but if we do not recognise this power dynamic, we trivialise racism as little more than name-calling. We will fail to understand how racism operates and how it continues to affect people from racially marginalised groups in their daily lives. One way to illustrate the systemic nature of racism is to look at the persistent lack of representation of people of colour in leadership positions in the corporate sector, the media and governments in Australia and elsewhere. In the United Kingdom, where the alleged incident occurred, institutional racism – including within the police force – has been recognised since the release of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry">Macpherson report</a> in 1999. It was reaffirmed in 2023 by the <a href="https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf">Baroness Casey Review</a>, despite some political pushback. The review found “Met officers are 82% White and 71% male, and the majority do not live in the city they police. As such, the Met does not look like the majority of Londoners.” <h2>Reverse racism?</h2> Anti-discrimination legislation in the UK and Australia usually does not speak explicitly of “racism”. It outlaws certain acts that are motivated, partially or wholly, by a person’s race (or other personal identity markers). Legislators introduced these laws with the intention of enhancing the legal protections for those who were considered vulnerable to racism. In Australia, for example, the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00274/latest/text">Racial Discrimination Act</a> (1975) is often celebrated as a legal cornerstone in the country’s journey away from its racist “White Australia” history towards a modern multicultural society. The United Nations’ <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial">International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination</a> (1965), ratified by Australia in 1975 and the UK in 1969, makes its intention explicit when it calls on all state parties to make it an offence to disseminate “ideas based on racial superiority”. The issue of power structures should also be seen through an institutional lens. It is difficult to imagine a person on the streets of London with more institutional power than a white police officer. Being called a “stupid bastard” might hurt someone’s feelings. But while I’m in no position to judge whether Sam Kerr’s alleged actions have caused “distress” to the officer – as the law would require – labelling the incident as racist is clearly not in line with what racism means. Such a definition would not align with the concept’s institutional and systemic dimensions. It is not what anti-discrimination laws were intended to outlaw. Claims of anti-white or “reverse” racism are based on a shallow, misguided and inaccurate understanding of what racism really constitutes. If Kerr’s court case fails to acknowledge the deeper purpose of anti-racism legislation by equating “racial” with “racist”, it risks setting a highly problematic precedent that would undermine efforts to acknowledge and tackle racism in all its forms. What would be the message to those millions of people in the UK, Australia and elsewhere who have to face racism every day without recognition of the harm it causes and without the support and capacity to sue the perpetrators? What would they think about their right to equality and their place in society?<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225267/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mario-peucker-192086">Mario Peucker</a>, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sam-kerrs-alleged-comments-may-have-had-a-racial-element-but-they-were-not-racist-225267">original article</a>.

Legal

"Tone deaf": Jetstar forced to apologise over "racist" joke

Jetstar has been forced to apologise after posting a "racist joke" on their Facebook page, in which they poke fun at the Vietnamese currency. The Aussie airline mocked the currency of the Southeast Asian country in a post, saying, "Sorry but Vietnamese money being called Dong is objectively funny." "And a million Dong is $65 and I basically have $65 which means I'm a millionaire," it wrote. The post was flooded with comments from many of their 782,000 followers, resulting in the post being deleted. One person wrote, "No more Vietnamese will fly with Jetstar. Racial hatred." "I'll never choose Jetstar until they issue an official apology to the Vietnamese people," another declared. A third comment read, "A tone deaf joke. Just a reminder — racial hatred is illegal in Australia. Just because you delete the post doesn't mean it's OK." One commenter slammed the joke for being "unprofessional, disrespectful, and unacceptable". "Ensure understanding of cultural respect and sensitivity before making culturally disrespectful joke on such a formal airline page." Jetstar responded to some of the comments made about the post, with one response saying, "You are totally right, and that's why we've deleted the post. We're really sorry for any offence caused." Another apology added, "We agree the post was inappropriate and as a result it was removed earlier today." One flyer shared a personal apology message she received after contacting the airline through its official Facebook page to complain about the post. "We agree the post was inappropriate and as a result it has been removed. We're really sorry for any offence caused," the Jetstar spokesperson wrote." 'Please be assured that this incident was in no way related to Vietnamese nationality or race." "You have my absolute assurance that Jetstar will not tolerate discrimination on ethnicity, race or any other unlawful grounds." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

"You're entitled to know": Piers Morgan reveals names of "royal racists"

Piers Morgan has revealed the names of the senior royal family members who allegedly made "racist" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/new-royal-book-pulled-from-shelves-over-huge-legal-blunder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> about baby Archie's skin colour. Mystery has surrounded the new royal family exposé Endgame, written by Omid Scobie, after he claimed to know which royals allegedly made the comments when Meghan Markle was pregnant with her first child. Then, in a Dutch translation of the book being sold in The Netherlands, the names were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/second-royal-racist-accidentally-named-in-new-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accidentally</a> printed in an "error", but kept out of the press for legal reason. But now, controversial British journalist Piers Morgan has revealed the names that feature in the translated book, which is quickly being cleared from shelves, saying people have the right to know. On Wednesday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, the British broadcaster revealed the names of the two royals who allegedly had “concerns” about baby Archie's skin tone, although saying he doesn't believe any such comments were made. He explained to his viewers that he doesn’t “believe any racist comments were ever made by any of the royal family,” he felt that his fellow citizens had a right to know information that only a handful of readers from another country were inadvertently privy to. “Frankly, if Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can pick it up and see these names, then you — the British people here, who actually pay for the British royal family — you’re entitled to know, too.” According to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/piers-morgan-reveals-names-of-royals-exposed-in-bombshell-book-questioning-archies-skin-colour/news-story/7b499c1baa1a40116cbc07c7b26069d6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> and <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/11/29/royal-family/piers-morgan-reveals-names-of-royals-exposed-in-book-for-commenting-on-archies-skin-color/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a>, Morgan said the names are King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton. Despite Morgan's claims, Page Six has been unable to verify which names were accidentally revealed. Given the controversy surrounding the book, Xander Publishers announced that it received a request from the United States to abruptly halt sales of the book. “I can’t talk about the details,” a spokesperson for the publishing house said in a statement. “We have, however, received a request to put the title on hold, and that is what we have done. We are awaiting further instructions. I do not know how long this will be.” Image credits: Piers Morgan Uncensored

Legal

Second “royal racist” accidentally named in new book

A second member of the royal family has been accused of being "racist", after the bombshell royal exposé implied them in the scandal over baby Archie's skin colour. In Omid Scobie's new book Endgame, he discusses the comments that members of the royal family made to Meghan Markle when she was pregnant with baby Archie. Markle first shared the bombshell allegations in her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but she refused to name the royal family member who made the comments, saying, “I think that would be very damaging to them.” On Wednesday, reports emerged that copies of the book were being <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/new-royal-book-pulled-from-shelves-over-huge-legal-blunder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulled from shelves</a> as the Dutch translation of the book accidentally named the person involved in the scandal. Omid Scobie admitted he does know who made the comments, but UK libel laws prevented him from naming them in the book. Now, as copies of the tell-all book have been flying off shelves, it seems another member of the royal family has been implicated in the book, which is now said to be frantically being pulled from shelves. It comes after Mr Scobie denied responsibility for the Dutch translation of his new book “accidentally naming” a member of the Royal Family. Publishers Xander Uitgevers yesterday said they were seeking to remove Mr Scobie’s work from bookshelves saying there had been an “error”. Speaking to Dutch TV on Wednesday night, Mr Scobie defended his book, saying, “The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch”. “But if there are translation errors, I’m sure the publishers will have it under control." “I wrote and edited the English version. There’s never been no version that I’ve produced that has names in it.” In the English version, Mr Scobie writes, “In the pages of these private letters [given to Oprah by Markle], two identities were revealed. UK laws prevent me from reporting who they were”. But the Dutch version reads, “In those private letters, an identity was revealed and confirmed” — before going on to name a senior royal. Dutch royal reporter Rick Evers says he was one of only two journalists to be given a manuscript of Endgame last Wednesday. Mr Evers said, “I was shocked that no one else in the world mentioned the fact that a member of the royals was named in the book as the racist”. “That was the main accusation in the book that I noticed and what I put in my (review) article, which was published with a photo of that royal." “I began to question if it was only my manuscript that had the name in it. I went to get the book from a store and it was exactly the same,” Mr Evers said. “A woman called from the publisher saying there was a legal problem and my article had to be removed.” It is unclear how the error occurred, but Mr Scobie confirmed that the first royal family member named in the book is not the one stated in the letters from Meghan Markle. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

“I’m being racist to eggs”: Wellness influencer slammed for innocent comment

An Australian influencer has been forced to address a "racist" comment she made about her son's lunch. Health and fitness influencer Sarah Stevenson, who is known by her millions of followers as Sarah's Day, was filming herself as she made lunch for her son. The 31-year-old stopped herself as she made her child a curried egg sandwich, saying he be dubbed “the smelly boy in the playground” if he took the meal to school. “Do you want to be ‘smelly curried egg boy’?” she asked him. While the seemingly innocent comment went unnoticed by many of her followers, one person sent her a message demanding an apology for her "borderline racist" comment. The entrepreneur and mum-of-two replied to the private message in a video response to her followers explaining that she meant the “egg smell” and didn't mean anything racist. “Didn’t everyone go to school with someone who brought eggs in their lunch and you’re like, ‘ew, you smell like rotten eggs’... not ‘you smell like curry!’,” she said in the video on her Instagram Stories. She said sarcastically, “I’m being racist to eggs.” Stevenson then doubled down on the follower’s outrage, following that with a cooking tutorial for “racist eggs”. The late night social media saga was re-shared by a popular account, where it was dubbed “egg gate” and plenty more people weighed in on the drama. “She should have apologised and taken it down instead she’s made it worse,” one commenter wrote. The general consensus from the public was that the original racism accusation “was a definite reach”, but she went too far with her explanation. “Honestly don’t think there was any malice in the original comment — she definitely scrambled (ha!), way too far in explaining herself afterwards though,” someone wrote. Image credits: Instagram

Food & Wine

Fan called out over "racist" complaint at Sir Paul McCartney's concert

A fan has copped some backlash after complaining about an "Acknowledgment of Country" sign at Sir Paul McCartney's concert in Sydney over the weekend . The sign read: "We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation and all family groups connected to this Country, as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather and perform today. "We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today." It was displayed over two large screens during McCartney's gig at Allianz Stadium, and concertgoer Kobie Thatcher was not happy with it. "You can't even go to a concert now without an "acknowledgement of country,"" she tweeted on Saturday. Most fans were quick to call her out on her "racist" remark. "You went to a Paul McCartney concert and are complaining about treating POC [people of colour] with respect?" one wrote. "The Beatles refused to play to segregated concerts in the USA. Peace and love is what you take to his concerts, not division and hate." "Oh for gods sake, get over it, he also flew the pride flag, I guess your knickers are in a twist about that too!" another commented. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> You can’t even go to a concert now without an ‘acknowledgement of country’ 🙄 <a href="https://t.co/lHmqgtroTz">pic.twitter.com/lHmqgtroTz</a> — Kobie Thatcher (@KobieThatcher) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobieThatcher/status/1718177010915455229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote> "You & other racists could move to Texas, if that would be better for you," a third added. "You conservatives are always getting triggered so easily huh," a fourth commented. However a few others agreed with Thatcher's tweet. "I thought this "welcome to country" crap was gonna be finished after we ALL voted No!" wrote one person. "So sick and annoying. Disgusting too," another added. Images: Getty/ X

Legal

Sam Newman grilled point-blank: "Are you a racist?"

Sam Newman has been left struggling to come up with an answer after being asked if he is a racist. The former AFL player spoke with Tony Jones on 3AW radio on Thursday, as he doubled down on recent comments that encouraged Australians to boo during Welcome to Country acknowledgements. While defending his opinions, Newman was asked point-blank by Jones, "Are you a racist?" Newman stuttered in response, "Now... what a... No, no, please..." Jones clarified his question, "I think there would be people listening to this at the moment with an open mind that would want me to ask that question." Newman became immediately defensive, asking in retaliation, "Please... now you tell me what you think a racist is besides saying me ... Who have I vilified? I don't think you know what racism is. "Racism is about hate primarily and it's if you defile, decry or degrade someone, think you're superior than them or try to dominate them." "It's the most overworked word in the English lexicon at the minute... you tell me why anything I've said and what I've done is anything to do with racism." Newman then went on to highlight the past controversy surrounding Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes, saying he was relentlessly booed while playing because of an incident on the field, and not because of his race. "[In 2015] Adam Goodes was booed because he pretended to throw a spear at the Carlton cheer squad after the Swans were beating them by 10 goals at half-time and wondered why people... people get booed on the football field, not because of their skin colour, but because of things they do," Newman said. "I know that, everyone knows that. Then the AFL waded into this... and said 'please don't boo Adam Goodes'. That's like red rag to a bull." Contrary to Newman's comments, Goodes had been booed for weeks prior to tha incident by the crowd every time he neared the ball, with the crowd escalating their behaviour, which resulted in fans being kicked out of the stadium. Newman also insisted he was not attempting to incite violence against First Nations Australians after he urged people to boo the Welcome to Country at the AFL Grand Final. "We like to go to the football and watch the game without being told to vote for the gay marriage proposal, which is fine, without being told to vote for the Voice - I know (the AFL) has retracted their direction to vote Yes for the Voice. Why do they get involved?" he said. "I'll tell you. It's an absolute hoax. It's a rort. Welcome to Country. Why do we have to be welcomed to the country we live in? Why is that? It is just a mark of division. The people who welcome you to country get a nice stipend out of it. Why do they charge to have it? It is just a rort." Just prior to his radio appearance, senator Lidia Thorpe once again blasted his comments on the Today Show. "Sam Newman, I'm not sure why he's even in the news. He's irrelevant to any debate of the time," she said on Thursday morning. "It's about peace. The whole message behind it is respect." "Sam Newman is not a respectful man at the best of times. He needs to educate himself." Image credits: Getty Images

News

George Calombaris bans "racist" diner

Celebrity chef George Calombaris has publicly slammed a diner's "racist" review of his Victorian restaurant, The Hellenic House Project, and banned them from visiting his business. The diner left a negative Google review of the restaurant yesterday, claiming that it was the "Worst 'non' dining experience ever!" The diner claimed they had to wait six weeks for a booking to arrive at the first sitting, and had issues with the manager who they ordered food from. They alleged that after 45 minutes of waiting for their food to arrive, they had to find a waiter themselves and was told the manager had "forgot" to put in the order. "Typically, we weren't offered any compensation except that our food would be out in 5 mins. Which it wasn't. I should've realised it was going to be a disaster when I had to ask for the menu after 10 [minutes]," wrote the customer. "Like others, we've dined in many, many restaurants and were keen to try this 'authentic Greek' experience. It was far from it. "Practically none of the staff were Greek (including' the Manager who was of Indian descent) and the menu didn't reflect what has been posted online. Calombaris - this place is a joke and you've certainly got a few people fooled," they concluded. They gave a one out of five star rating for everything. The celebrity chef hit back at the scathing review by posting a screenshot of it on Instagram with the caption: "Won't lie. I am 99 percent a very positive human. But this is horrible. "Yes. We made a mistake with your order. We are humans. And yes my manager is Indian. You know who you are guys. You're not welcome ever to @thehellenichouseproject," he added. "You don't have to speak Greek or be a Greek to work at THHP. You just have to be a good human. I am so proud of my team. I hate racism. F****n hate it." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvRLCjGSYZy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvRLCjGSYZy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by George Calombaris (@gcalombaris)</a> </div> </blockquote> Various celebrity chefs have come to his defence including, My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel. "Well done George, people like this should just stay home. And that is a very polite way to say what I really feel like saying," he commented with an angry emoji. Calombaris' former MasterChef co-host and celebrity chef also came to his defence, with a quote from diplomat Mohamad Safa. "Our world is not divided by race, colour, gender or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divided themselves by race, colour, gender, or religion," he commented Former MasterChef contestant Nicholas Fredrick Riewoldt also commented his support and said, "5/5 across the board when I visited @thehellenichouseproject love you GC ❤️". Another former MasterChef contestant Dan Churchill also defended Calombaris. "Standing up for your team mate, huge. You often ask if this kind of note means the individual needs a hug. Absolutely love @thehellenichouseproject," he commented. Images: Instagram

Food & Wine

Kyle censored during fiery on-air debate

Kyle Sandilands has been censored during an on-air rant about Indigenous Australians. The radio shock jock clashed with The Kyle and Jackie O Show newsreader Brooklyn Ross as the pair discussed the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which would comprise of a body of First Nations Australians and Torres Strait Islanders who can advise the government on matters relating to the social, spiritual and economic wellbeing of their people. As the pair argued, lengthy portions of Kyle's opinionated rant were censored. However, some of his comments made it to air. “We have to actually give [Indigenous Australians] money and look after them,” said Ross to which Sandilands replied: “Nah, bulls**t!” “How about educating people and giving people the chance to build their own life like the rest of us did?” he suggested. Sandilands has made it clear that he is staunchly opposed to the Voice, as he doesn’t believe a reported $34 billion in funds should be allocated to Indigenous Australians as he thinks the money wasn’t having a positive affect on First Nations communities. “No one’s really putting all that $34 billion into fixing the real problem. They’re painting houses and giving them this and that,” Sandilands added, before mocking: “’We’ll rename Fraser Island!’” During his rant, he went on to criticise Welcome to Country traditions that have been adopted into everyday life, which involves a speech typically given at significant events by an elder or custodian to welcome visitors to their traditional country. “Look, The Project’s thanking people from the past [for] using their land. These things, they’re s**t!” he said. “No one’s better than anyone else. If they’re treated worse, that’s an issue." After staying silent for most of his tirade, Jackie O chimed in to say she agreed with that part of his outburst. “Thank you, Jackie. Jackie’s finally popped up," he sarcastically called listeners, before telling her: “I understand you don’t want to get involved in it.” Rightfully so, said Ross who made Henderson laugh when he said, “[An] angry man and a gay man arguing. And both of us white!” Image credits: KIISFM

News

Country music star's "racist" song divides audience

A popular country music star has been forced to defend his new song and accompanying music video, after many condemned the track for being racist. Jason Aldean's song, titled Try That in a Small Town, soared to number one on the country music charts in the US, before been pulled by Country Music Television after claims it promoted gun violence, vigilantism and lynching: a form of execution frequently committed against African-Americans. The singer, who is known for his conservative views, defended the song, saying it was about, “the feeling of community that I had growing up in where we took care of our neighbours, regardless of difference of background or beliefs”. He also slammed the furore against the song, saying saying the accusations against the track that it is “pro lynching” are “not only meritless but dangerous”. Singer Sheryl Crow called out Aldean posting on Twitter, “There’s nothing small town or American about promoting violence,” and called the song “lame” for its controversial themes. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/Jason_Aldean?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jason_Aldean</a> I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame <a href="https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr">https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr</a> — Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SherylCrow/status/1681485292425867264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote> The music video for the song prompted a new wave of backlash, as it was filmed outside the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, which is a site that African American man was lynched. A writer for entertainment industry magazine <a title="variety.com" href="https://variety.com/2023/music/opinion/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-worst-country-song-video-column-1235673177/">Variety</a> said it was “the most contemptible country song of the decade” which traded on the “implicit moral superiority of having a limited number of neighbours”. “For Aldean, it’s about how tiny burgs are under the imminent threat of attack from lawless urban marauders who will have to be kept at bay by any means necessary – meaning, pretty explicitly, vigilantism,” wrote its music critic Chris William. He went on to say the video was “dangerous” because it “conflates the act of protesting with violent crime”. In the wake of the criticism, Aldean hit back on his social media accounts, saying people had gone "too far" with their interpretation of the song. He wrote on Twitter, “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it – and there isn’t a single clip that isn’t real news footage – and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music – this one goes too far.” “My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from. And I know that a lot of us in this country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy, where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night, but the desire for it to – that’s what the song is about.” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Mark Latham sued over homophobic tweet

Mark Latham is being sued by New South Wales independent MP Alex Greenwich, after he failed to apologise for a "disgusting" homophobic tweet. Greenwich said he will initiate defamation proceedings against the One Nation NSW leader in the coming days, after he gave Latham until Thursday May 18th to issue an apology for the tweet against the openly gay member for Sydney. Greenwich confirmed the legal action would proceed after being by Latham's lawyers that he had no intention of apologising. <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/mark-latham-under-fire-over-disgusting-homophobic-tweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Latham's tweet</a> made headlines in March, after the politicians became engaged in a war of words over Twitter when discussing <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">the violent protest at St Michael's Church in Sydney's west, which saw members of the LGBTQIA+ community be attacked by religious extremists. <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">More than a dozen LGBTQIA+ protesters were ambushed by hundreds of men outside an event at the church where Mr Latham spoke about parental rights and religious freedom. <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">In an article Mr Greenwich called Mr Latham a "disgusting human being" who risks causing a "great deal of damage to our state". <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Latham was quick to respond on Twitter, saying "That's disgusting?" What about..." followed by a graphic and homophobic comment that OverSixty has chosen not to publish. Greenwich said his decision to take legal action against Latham was something that required much consideration, but something he feels he must do. "This is not a process I enter into lightly, and a process I wish I didn't have to engage in," Greenwich said in a statement. "However, Mr Latham's homophobic, sexualised attack has exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse, based on my sexuality, and demands actions." Greenwich has lodged a complaint of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment against Latham with Anti-Discrimination NSW. He has also made a police complaint against Latham for using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend. "It's 2023 and LGBTQIA+ Australians shouldn't have to put up with abuse that targets our sexuality, character, or ability to do our jobs," Greenwich said. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

“Pattern of bigotry”: Pauline Hanson being sued by senator over tweet

Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi has launched legal action against Pauline Hanson over a tweet telling her to "pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan”. Documents filed in the Federal Court on May 3 allege the One Nation leader breached section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act with the tweet in 2022. Faruqi is seeking a sum of $150,000 be donated to a not-for-profit or community organisation of her choice. She also wants Hanson to undertake anti-racism training and pay legal fees. Faruqi revealed in a statement that she had “taken on bullies” her whole life and had no choice but to take on Hanson. "I refuse to let Senator Hanson get away with racist bullying and harassment," she said. "Senator Hanson crossed a line when she tweeted those hateful comments and I am hoping the Federal Court puts an end to this pattern of bigotry. "Not just for me, but for the almost 30 per cent of Australians born overseas, and their next generations. "I shouldn't have to take the personal risk and trauma of taking Senator Hanson to court." In 2022, the Greens attempted to reprimand Hanson in the upper house but the motion was amended by the government and opposition to instead condemn all forms of racism. Hanson defended her comments and denied she is racist. Farqui said she decided to launch proceedings following Hanson’s refusal to apologise for her tweet and her rejection of conciliation attempts from the Australian Human Rights Commission. "Senator Hanson has used her decades in the spotlight and immense public platform to spew vicious hate towards people of colour," Faruqi said. "She has caused incalculable harm and gotten away with it for far too long. "It's time that she was held accountable. "Senator Hanson has been contacted for comment on the court action." Image credit: Getty/Instagram

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