Latest news with #Alboriginals
Epoch Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Dutton, Bandt Trade Blows Over Accusations of Anti-Semitism
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Greens Leader Adam Bandt have exchanged rhetoric after the former accused the minor left-wing party of being an 'anti-Semitic, Jew-hating party.' It comes after Dutton was pressed about social media posts by the Liberal Party's candidate for the western Sydney seat of Fowler, Vivek Singha. Singha has apologised for social media posts during the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum campaign where he mocked Indigenous Australians, and launched personal attacks against Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's family. In one post, he wrote, 'Everybody needs to wake up to the sleeping lazybags (the Alboriginals),' according to ABC. In October, one post targeted Plibersek directly, asking, 'Why are you of all people standing for others when you couldn't even look after your own daughter's safety.' Dutton responded saying the posts were 'inappropriate and shouldn't have been made' but insisted the candidate had apologised. Related Stories 4/1/2025 3/27/2025 'I won't take a lecture from the prime minister, who is preferencing the Greens number two,' Dutton said. 'This is an anti-Semitic, Jew-hating party. They have been involved in all sorts of horrible doxxing and comments online that are repugnant but not repudiated by the prime minister.' Bandt Says Comments Are 'Reprehensible' Greens leader Adam Bandt rebuked Dutton's comments, calling them 'reprehensible, offensive and utterly untrue.' He warned that such rhetoric was 'dangerous at a time when far-right movements are emboldened by Donald Trump's presidency.' 'The Liberals are resorting to dangerous lies because their campaign is in freefall,' Bandt said. Members of the Greens Party have openly supported a tougher stance against Israel. For example, last year Greens Senator David Shoebridge attended protests against a military exhibition in Melbourne alongside pro-Palestine supporters. Other Greens MPs have joined pro-Palestine encampments at Australian university campuses.
The Age
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Liberal candidate's offensive posts surface to ruffle feathers in Fowler
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says social media posts made by Liberal candidate Vivek Singha that use a derogatory term for Indigenous Australians are 'inappropriate' but has stopped short of dumping him as the party's candidate for the high-profile western Sydney seat of Fowler. Singha has apologised for a series of offensive social media posts made between August and October 2023 first revealed by ABC News. Multiple posts by Singha used derogatory terminology for First Nations people; in one he claimed: 'Everybody needs to wake up to the sleeping lazybags (the Alboriginals).' Singha told the ABC he 'should not have expressed' himself in that way. The revelations have raised questions about campaign literature circulated ahead of Saturday's federal election by Dai Le, the independent member for Fowler. A how-to-vote flier being distributed by Le ranks Vivek Singha above Labor candidate, Tu Le, One Nation candidate, Tony Margos and Greens candidate, Avery Jacob Howard. (The flier also says voters should number every box on the ballot 'in order of your choice'.) Le would not say whether her campaign will stop distributing the fliers that suggested preferencing Singha over the ALP and other candidates when asked by the Herald on Monday. Le claimed Labor was 'desperately trying to falsely link' her to the Liberal Party. 'The reality is simple: I have made it clear on my how to vote that voters should put [1] next to my name — and then number every box in the order they choose,' Le said in a statement to this masthead.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Liberal candidate's offensive posts surface to ruffle feathers in Fowler
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says social media posts made by Liberal candidate Vivek Singha that use a derogatory term for Indigenous Australians are 'inappropriate' but has stopped short of dumping him as the party's candidate for the high-profile western Sydney seat of Fowler. Singha has apologised for a series of offensive social media posts made between August and October 2023 first revealed by ABC News. Multiple posts by Singha used derogatory terminology for First Nations people; in one he claimed: 'Everybody needs to wake up to the sleeping lazybags (the Alboriginals).' Singha told the ABC he 'should not have expressed' himself in that way. The revelations have raised questions about campaign literature circulated ahead of Saturday's federal election by Dai Le, the independent member for Fowler. A how-to-vote flier being distributed by Le ranks Vivek Singha above Labor candidate, Tu Le, One Nation candidate, Tony Margos and Greens candidate, Avery Jacob Howard. (The flier also says voters should number every box on the ballot 'in order of your choice'.) Le would not say whether her campaign will stop distributing the fliers that suggested preferencing Singha over the ALP and other candidates when asked by the Herald on Monday. Le claimed Labor was 'desperately trying to falsely link' her to the Liberal Party. 'The reality is simple: I have made it clear on my how to vote that voters should put [1] next to my name — and then number every box in the order they choose,' Le said in a statement to this masthead.
ABC News
27-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Liberal candidate in Western Sydney seat of Fowler Vivek Singha apologises for offensive social media posts
The Liberal Party candidate for the high-profile Western Sydney seat of Fowler has apologised for a series of offensive social media posts uncovered by ABC News. WARNING: This article contains racist and offensive language. Vivek Singha said he regretted multiple posts on social media, in which he used a derogatory term for Indigenous Australians and also took aim at federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek over a personal family matter. The posts on X date back to 2023, in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament referendum in which he was pushing for a 'No' vote. In October 2023, an anti-Voice post from his account read: "50K per a**, already being spent, they'll want 500K per head." Mr Singha issued multiple posts from August to October 2023 using derogatory terminology. ( Supplied: Vivek Singha ) The social media platform flagged it as a possible violation of its rules against "hateful content". From August to October 2023, Mr Signha posted multiple times using similar terminology for First Nations people. In one post he claimed: "Everybody needs to wake up to the sleeping lazybags (the Alboriginals)." Vivek Singha's posts date back to 2023, in the lead up to the Voice referendum. ( Supplied: Vivek Singha ) In October 2023, an anti-Voice post from the account also appeared to take aim at Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, after it was reported her daughter had experienced domestic violence at the hands of a former partner. It read: "Worst of it all, why are YOU @tanya_plibersek of all people standing for others when you couldn't even look after your own daughters (sic) safety… Anyword (sic) coming out of this person is as good as a puff frm the backside!!! cannot keep my home safe give me a blank cheque for a****". More than a week later, excerpts from media reports about Minister Plibersek's husband were shared on the account with the comment: "Wow it is a great team (NOT) that is now leading the nation!!! That's why her daughter was bashed." Mr Singha also took aim at Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. ( X: Vivek Singha ) Ms Plibersek is married to prominent NSW public servant Michael Coutts-Trotter, who has spoken openly about his conviction for heroin importation and drug addiction in the 1980s. Read more about the federal election: Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 Social media account made inactive The X account became inactive on Sunday afternoon after the ABC contacted a Liberal Party spokesperson for comment. Mr Singha said in a statement to the ABC: "I apologise for the social media posts, I should not have expressed myself in that way and I sincerely regret doing so." Mr Singha is not expected to claim the seat of Fowler, which is seen as a contest between independent MP Dai Le and Labor candidate Tu Le. Labor lost the seat in 2022 after attempting to parachute former senator Kristina Keneally into the multicultural electorate. Photo shows A graphic showing a range of reader comments about potential issues in Australia's 2025 federal election. What do you need to know before you vote in the upcoming federal election? What would you ask the candidates? Have Your Say. But the emergence of the posts will raise questions over the vetting of NSW Liberal candidates. Earlier this month, The "Their hips are being destroyed because they can't cope with the carrying of the heavy loads," he said. The NSW Liberals said Mr Britton's views were "inconsistent with the party's position. Loading Having trouble seeing this form? Try
