NT minister quotes Nazi propagandist, references theory of evolution in racism debate

Australia Broadcast Center

22-05-2025

The Northern Territory's anti-discrimination commissioner has criticised comments by the territory's multicultural affairs minister appearing to link race with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Jinson Charls made the comments after Independent MLA Yingiya Guyula moved a motion in parliament on Wednesday urging the government to commit to eradicating racism through the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and National Anti-Racism Framework.
The Country Liberal Party (CLP) frontbencher began his speech by saying "I do not support racism in any form".
"I'm not afraid to name it, call it out and challenge it no matter where it hides or how it's dressed up," he told the chamber.
Mr Charls went on to highlight the insidious ways racism can hurt minority groups and shared some of his personal experiences as a migrant in Australia before explaining how "science" had "shaped my thinking".
"Charles Darwin's survival of the fittest theory, the well-known theory from long ago, still rings true in many ways," he said.
"People are born with different strengths, different talents and not all parts are equal, not all people can do the same things.
NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Jeswynn Yogaratnam said "trying to ground anti-racism in Darwin's theory misses the point entirely".
"When we look at the context of who is the fittest, it's always the person with power and privilege," he said.
"That's not what we should be achieving by using the theory of evolution."
In a statement issued on Thursday, Independent MLA Justine Davis said Mr Charls' comments were "deeply concerning".
"It is well-documented that Darwin's theory was used to justify atrocities committed against Aboriginal people here in Australia, and informed incredibly harmful government policies such as the Stolen Generation," she said.
In his speech, Mr Charls also quoted notorious Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, while accusing the Labor opposition of adopting his "method" as a "political strategy".
"There is an old saying — tell a lie often enough and it becomes the truth," he said.
"It is not my line, it was a method used by Joseph Goebbels, a propaganda architect in dark days of history."
In her statement, Ms Davis said speaking as a Jewish woman, the reference was "deeply concerning" and called into question Mr Charls' fitness for the multicultural affairs portfolio.
"The casual invocation of one of history's most notorious figures, responsible for enabling genocide, is not only inappropriate, it is offensive to multicultural communities, Holocaust survivors and all Australians who value respectful discourse and historical truth," she said.
After the ABC requested further clarification from Mr Charls over his comments on Thursday, he released a statement reiterating that he did "not condone racism in any form".
"Context is important when speaking on such an important topic," he said.
"My contribution yesterday is on the Hansard record and I'll let people read it for themselves, however will reinforce the words from my speech — all members of this house are equal.
"No one is above another and my contribution was clear to the amended motion which was about racism affecting everyone."
The CLP made amendments removing references to the government's obligations under the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and anti-racism framework before ultimately supporting Mr Guyula's motion.
In a statement, the Arnhem Land politician said he was "surprised" by the removal of any reference to Aboriginal people's specific experiences of systemic racism.
Aboriginal people make up the vast majority of the NT's overflowing prison population and experience significantly poorer health and education outcomes.
Mr Guyula said while it "may not have been intentional", the amended motion "removed my voice and the First Nations experience that I was trying to highlight".