Premier's surprise sledge in parliament
NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed former Labor MLC Mark Latham as 'Australia's biggest bigot' in a surprise spray in state parliament.
Mr Minns unleashed on the one-time One Nation NSW leader during question time on Thursday after he was asked about the blockage to reforms.
The Premier summed up the challenges as he saw them in 'three words' – The Legislative Council – and claimed it appeared Mr Latham was 'calling the shots'.
He accused Mr Latham of repeating 'old tropes' on his 'odious Twitter account' when referring to the Dural caravan 'hoax' and anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney this year. NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed former Labor MLC Mark Latham as 'Australia's biggest bigot'. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
'It may not shock people in the gallery of this parliament that one of Australia's biggest bigots doesn't like hate speech laws, but that doesn't mean they're not justified.
'I want to correct the record for members in the gallery and in the public, there were 14 incidents involved of anti-Semitism related to the Dural caravan inquiry.
'There were 367 anti-Semitism attacks in NSW over the past two years, 367 wisely ignored by the member in that other place, Mark Latham.'
Mr Minns claimed there was a 'coalition emerging' between the Greens in the Upper House, the Legislative Council, the Coalition, and One Nation.
He claimed they were 'voting together day after day' to 'platform one of the most shameful bigots in NSW', referring to Mr Latham. Mr Minns had been asked about the impediments to reform. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
'At some point, members of this parliament and the other house have to stand against this bigotry,' Mr Minns said.
It comes amid mounting tensions between the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, in particular over the Dural caravan inquiry.
Five staffers from Mr Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley's office were at risk of arrest this week after they failed to appear before the inquiry last week.
They have since agreed to appear on Friday before the inquiry, which seeks to establish who knew what and when about the explosive-laden caravan.
Proceedings were interrupted briefly by a protester who was later seen being escorted by security from the parliament complex.
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