ABC presenter Lisa Millar has slammed opposition leader Sussan Ley over a controversial image of Peter Dutton, which claimed Marcia Langton branded No voters as racist or stupid.
Mr Dutton posted an image on Instagram of Professor Langton, an architect of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, standing next to Anthony Albanese with the words ‘No Voters Branded “Racist, Stupid” By Prominent Voice Campaigner Marcia Langton’.
Prof. Langton – who earlier this week claimed she was referring to the No campaign’s tactics and not its voters – has enlisted the help of lawyers in a bid to have Mr Dutton’s post removed.
Millar clashed with Mr Dutton’s deputy, Ms Ley, during a fiery interview on ABC News Breakfast on Thursday morning, with Millar asking why Mr Dutton had not yet resigned from the post.
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley (right) was questioned by ABC presenter Lisa Millar (left) over a controversial image posted on social media by Peter Dutton of Voice Yes campaign manager Marcia Langton, who claimed she said No voters were racist and were stupid
“Your leader, Peter Dutton, posted on his social media this morning, tThe headline, which was removed by the Australian newspaper, read: “No voters labeled racially stupid by prominent Voice campaigner,” Millar said.
‘Do you accept that she did not do that during that meeting? And why wouldn’t Peter Dutton get that out of his social media posts?’
Ms Ley responded by saying Prof Langton’s comments suggested that ‘the arguments at the heart of the No campaign are racist or stupid’.
The Liberal politician then referred to other comments in which the academic said ‘hard no’ voters were ‘spewing racism’ before she was cut off by Millar.
Millar doubled down: “So it’s okay to have it up there? So you don’t go back for it. Is that what you say?’
Ms Ley replied: ‘No, I’m not Lisa because this isn’t about Liberal versus Labour.
“It’s about the campaign and the messaging and this administration’s refusal to actually stand back or condemn the people who say these things.”
“Look one in five Australians don’t spew racism, we are not a racist country, it’s okay to vote no, without this condemnation.”
The image of Professor Langton standing next to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese features the words ‘No Voters Branded ‘Racist, Stupid’ By Prominent Voice Campaigner Marcia Langton’ below the Australian newspaper’s logo
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) shared the photo on his Instagram account on Tuesday and did not delete it
Prof. Langton’s first comments on racism were made at a forum in Bunbury, Western Australia.
“Every time the No cases make their arguments, when you start to pick it apart you end up with either fundamental racism – I’m sorry to say that’s where it ends up – or sheer stupidity,” said she.
“If you look at any reputable fact-checker, everyone says the No case is factually incorrect. They’re lying to you.’
‘I asked the no voters: what do you think would be a better option? What must we do? Continue as we are, without change?
“I haven’t heard any of them come up with a solution that would work on its own.”
Meanwhile, Ms Ley’s reference to Professor Langton saying ‘hard No voters’ were ‘spewing racism’ was revealed in unearthed footage ripped from a panel discussion on the Voice to Parliament at the University of Queensland back in July.
The video, which aired on Sky News Australia, shows Professor Langton discussing a ‘wave’ of racism amid the Voice debate.
She said: “The wave of racist nonsense is confined to a minority of Australians.
Professor Marcia Langton made the comments at a forum in Bunbury, Western Australia, saying Australians need to do more research into claims made by the No campaign.
‘Ordinary Australians think, ‘Yes, of course I’ll vote for the Voice’. And that would be, for example, 48-49 percent.
‘Then there are the hard no voters. I hope it’s about 20 percent.
“And they are the ones spreading racism.”
More audio emerged on Thursday morning of Prof Langton telling an audience in 2017 that Australia ‘is a terribly racist country’.
‘Of course Australia is racist. It’s a terrible, racist country,” she said.
The Voice referendum will take place on October 14.