Extraordinary moment No campaigner Jane Hume asks Labor’s Clare O’Neil if she thinks she’s ‘racist’ on Sunrise – after Marcia Langton said the anti-Voice case is based on racism, stupidity

Senior politicians have clashed angrily on live television in a fiery confrontation over the Voice to Parliament, with a Liberal senator asking a Labor minister: ‘Am I racist?’

Home Secretary Clare O’Neill was furious with Liberal Senator Jane Hume after Voice architect Marcia Langton’s controversial comments that the No campaign’s arguments were based on racism and stupidity.

Ms O’Neil was challenged over host Natalie Barr’s comments on Seven’s Sunrise on Wednesday, insisting the Indigenous professor’s comments had been taken out of context.

But when the minister tried to move on to discussing measures to close the gap with indigenous communities, Ms Hume cut her off.

“Clare, this is the Yes campaign that calls anyone who votes No racist,” Ms Hume said.

Mrs. O’Neil responded, “Jane, Jane, let me talk about this vital issue for our country….”

But Mrs Hume asked: ‘Am I racist, Clare? Is that what you say?’

The Secretary of Labor snapped back, “Jane, that’s a disgraceful thing to say. That’s a shameful thing to say.

“You should debate the referendum because it’s not true.”

However, Mrs Hume persisted, shaking her head and rolling her eyes at the minister’s answers.

“No, it’s not,” she said. “That’s what Marcia Langton said. Are the millions of Australians who vote No racist, Clare?

‘This is outrageous. The Prime Minister must condemn this. Condemn the comments.”

Ms O’Neil admitted: ‘I understand, I understand – I understand that.

“But if you don’t mind, I’d like to say a few sentences here. Let me be very clear.

‘The No campaign wants to talk about something other than what the referendum is actually about, and those are two simple things.

“Recognizing the history of our First Nations and consulting with First Nations people on issues that affect them.

“It’s a simple, generous ask and I asked Australians to vote yes on October 14.”

Barr ended the feud but warned that weeks of conflict lay ahead.

“I think everyone has had their say,” she said, before adding: “We have four weeks until the referendum.”

Prof. Langton again denied on Wednesday that he had called the No voters racist and stupid in an interview to clarify her comments.

“I don’t believe most Australians are racists and I’m certainly not a racist,” the academic told ABC Radio.

“But what I said was that the No campaign’s claims were based on racism and stupidity, and that’s a very different kind of statement.”