One Nation’s leader in New South Wales has likened his boss’ maiden speech about Australia being “swamped by Asians” to Donald Trump’s infamous “grab them by the p****” comments, saying they both show voters do not worry about soundbites.
Speaking to News24 host Andrew Clennell on Monday, New South Wales One Nation Leader Mike Newman was pressed on how his wife feels about his new role given Pauline Hanson’s previous rhetoric about Asian immigrants.
Mr Newman, a former NSW Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Japan and Korea, has a Japanese wife, with whom he shares four children.
“The fact you do have half Japanese, half Australian children. The fact you have a Japanese wife, does that give you pause to run for One Nation when Pauline Hanson once said Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians?” Clennell asked.
In her maiden speech to the Australian Senate in 1996, Ms Hanson said she believed “we are in danger of being swamped by Asians.”
“They have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate,” she said.
“Of course, I will be called racist but, if I can invite whom I want into my home, then I should have the right to have a say in who comes into my country.”
Mr Newman likened the comments to controversial comments made by Mr Trump.
“It’s sort of like the Trump ‘grab them…’ moment, right. This is the same kind of thing,” Mr Newman said.
Mr Trump’s comments from a 2005 hot-mic exchange with a television host saw him say he was “automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them”.
“It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.
“And when you’re a star they let you do it… You can do anything. Grab them by the p—-.”
Mr Newman added in the News24 interview: “I don’t really think that it’s relevant.”
“I don’t think she’s racist.
“I’ve met with her and – holding things to what people said decades ago doesn’t pass the muster with an electorate that’s sick of the status quo.”
Clennell then pressed Mr Newman on what his wife thought of him being One Nation leader.
“I don’t think she’s too happy I’m getting into politics,” he jokingly answered.
“She loves Australia.
“I’ve got a newborn in a month or so, so that’ll add further complications to the campaign trail – so I might be pushing around an orange pram at this stage.”
This is not the first time Mr Newman’s background in Japan has been a feature of his pitch to voters.
Last week, he stunned reporters as he responded to a journalist in fluent Japanese.
Holding a press conference in the Hunter region on Friday, Mr Newman outlined his policy ambitions and responded to reporters’ questions – including one from a Japanese outlet.
“A question from Japan, sorry,” Mr Newman said, before he began to respond in Japanese to the journalist.
The moment appeared not only to take reporters by surprise, but also Ms Hanson, who interjected to suggest to Mr Newman that he should reply in English so everyone could understand.
“Excuse me,” Ms Hanson said.
Mr Newman told the One Nation leader he would “translate straight after”, and Ms Hanson then apologised for the interruption.
Read related topics:Rise of One NationPauline Hanson