Bernardi slammed over bestiality claims
SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros has savaged South Australian One Nation candidate Cory Bernardi for “once again stoking the flames of bigotry and hate”.
“Not content with One Nation’s incendiary comments against people of Muslim faith, Cory Bernardi has doubled down on his past comments linking gay marriage to the social acceptance of bestiality,’’ Ms Bonaros said. “This should be an outrage to anyone with a shred of morality and compassion.
"There's a special Greek word for people like Cory Bernardi with his repugnant, divisive views, and that word is MALAKA.
"If he doesn't know what that means he should find himself a Greek dictionary.''
Speaking on ABC Stateline, Mr Bernardi said he “100 per cent’’ stood by the comments he made as a Liberal senator 14 years ago.
"The next step, quite frankly, is having three people or four people that love each other being able to enter into a permanent union endorsed by society — or any other type of relationship," he told the Senate in 2012 (before same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia).
"There are even some creepy people out there … [who] say it is OK to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals."
He also backed One Nation leader Pauline Hanson after she suggested in an interview last month that there are no "good" Muslims, comments for which she later partially apologised.
Mr Bernardi said he "100 per cent" agreed with Senator Hanson's "sentiment" but clarified that he did not believe there were no "good" Muslims.
"If you want to say someone is a good Muslim, then their values are incompatible with Australian values," he said.
"If you say that someone happens to be of the Muslim faith and heritage and they obey our laws and things, under Islam they are not good Muslims.
"It's about how you define it."
Ms Bonaros said there was every likelihood Mr Bernardi will occupy an Upper House seat after the March 21 state election.
“I’ve had a gutful of this man and his hate. His words should offend every South Australian,’’ she said.
“He and his One Nation colleague Pauline Hanson have a long history of hostile commentary on refugees, asylum seekers, and multiculturalism — and now it’s very probable that he will take that toxic rhetoric into our Legislative Council.
“This should absolutely alarm people of Muslim faith, people in our gay community and anyone else with a modicum of humanity.
“Do we really want to see more inflammatory and divisive commentary in our community? Because that is what will happen if Bernardi is elected.
“He is cut from the same mean-spirited cloth as his leader. And they are doubling down.
“How many more people are we going to let them offend?
“Who’s next? Is it Australian Indians, Greeks or Vietnamese? Is it women?
“And when will we say ‘enough is enough’?
“Where is Labor, where are the Liberals?
“How can they stay silent while One Nation spreads this sort of hate, fear and loathing?
“It’s disingenuous, it’s dog-whistling and it’s disgusting,’’ Ms Bonaros said.
“Don’t forget that if he is, God forbid, elected, Bernardi will have no power to act on immigration. Immigration is a federal matter; South Australia’s parliament has no authority to act on immigration issues.
“Any political party preying on the cost-of-living crisis with empty or offensive political slogans should be ashamed of themselves.’’
Imam Kamran Tahir of the Mahmood Mosque is issuing a media statement. Media are free to contact Sharif on 0469 078 152 for further details.
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