Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Australian PM denies allegations of 'racial vilification' against Lebanese rival

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Apr 2022 12:30
3 Min Read

The reprimand has come from a member of his own party, which added pressure on Morrison, who needs to close a 10-point difference to win.

  • x
  • Australian PM denies allegations of 'racial vilification'
    Australian PM denies allegations of 'racial vilification'.

The Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, rejected claims on Sunday regarding how he launched his political career, accusing him of vilifying his rival over his Lebanese heritage and rumors he was Muslim. 

Morrison's party members signed legal declarations indicating that he advised them in 2007 that his opponent in a local election, Michael Towke, was too hazardous for the Liberals to support as their candidate.

The pair claimed that this was due to his ethnic background, after a "strong rumor" that the Lebanese Christian was Muslim, according to reports in The Saturday Paper. 

Read more: Australia: Deep reluctance to discuss racism in workplaces

"I could not reject this more fundamentally," Morrison told reporters Sunday, adding that close to an election people "make all sorts of things up because they have other motivations".

Related News

Trump sparks fury with push to revive racist NFL team name

Only one-third of UK anti-racism recommendations implemented

Morrison is poised to call an election in the coming days, hoping to capitalize on a recent budget, but he had little time to sell it before the controversy broke out.

The claims relate to his early political career when he was vying for the Sydney seat of Cook, where white and Lebanese Australians brawled on a beach during the racially fraught Cronulla riots in 2005.

Towke told Nine newspapers on Sunday that among tactics used to unseat him from Cook in 2007, "racial vilification was front and center and (Morrison) was directly involved."

He publicly backed a 2016 account that preselectors informed him that Morrison had told them in 2007 “a candidate of Lebanese heritage could not hold the seat of Cook, especially after the Cronulla riots” and there was a “strong rumour” that Towke was a Muslim.

Read more: Islamophobia surged in Australia after the Christchurch massacre

The 15-year-old claims surfaced after Morrison's Liberal party colleague Concetta Fierravanti-Wells alluded to them in Parliament on Tuesday during a rare attack on the Prime Minister.

"In my public life, I have met ruthless people. Morrison tops the list," she said, adding that he "is not fit to be prime minister."

The reprimand from a member of his own party added to the pressure on Morrison, who needs to close a 10-point difference between his conservative government and the Labor opposition to retain power in the election, which is scheduled for mid-May.

  • Racism
  • Islamophobia
  • Scott Morrison
  • Australia

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS