Labor senator Sam Dastyari has made the sensational claim that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is inspiring racist attacks, like the verbal assault he was barraged with last night.
The Iranian-born senator was called a “terrorist” and “little monkey” by members of right-wing group Patriot Blue at a pub in Melbourne. He says Ms Hanson’s politics are giving rise to a culture of extremism.
“[Hanson] is their hero, just as Trump is the hero of these right-wing extremists in the US and, frankly, it is leading us to a very, very ugly place in our politics,” he told Sky News.
“This type of extremism, this white nationalism, this is what leads to Charlottesville in the US.”
In a Q&A with fellow Labor MP Tim Watts, he said it was an example of the “rise of One Nation right”.
“All of this is the rise of the radical right in this country, it is the rise of One Nation right. These are people who feel incredibly empowered because of what Pauline Hanson has done for them.
“You dance so far to the right that it gives those a little bit further out a sense of entitlement.”
Ms Hanson’s camp was quick to fire back, saying it was his personality rather than ethnic background and faith that made him a target.
“Sam Dastyari gets heckled because he’s a wanker,” Ms Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby told AAP today. “And not because he’s a Muslim.”
Sam Dastyari gets heckled because he’s a wanker.
Patriot Blue defends actions on radio program
Speaking with radio presenter Neil Mitchell this morning, Patriot Blue member Neil Erikson rubbished suggestions they may have crossed the line.
Asked if politicians should be able to go out in public without being subjected to this kind of behaviour, Mr Erikson said: “Yeah, if he was a normal politician. But he runs his mouth about white people all the time.”
He then went on to compare the senator to a “shifty car salesman” and “monkeys in Thailand trying to get money out of people’s pockets”.
And while he said Mr Dastyari wouldn’t be targeted again, there are other politicians in his sights.
