{"id":598510,"date":"2026-02-18T11:10:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/598510\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:10:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:10:24","slug":"claims-of-racist-comment-in-wa-parliament-after-chinese-new-year-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/598510\/","title":{"rendered":"Claims of ‘racist’ comment in WA parliament after Chinese New Year event"},"content":{"rendered":"

WA Labor MPs are calling on a Nationals member to publicly apologise for what they allege was a racist comment to one of their colleagues.<\/p>\n

The WA parliament was hosting a Chinese New Year function on Monday evening when the Nationals member for Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan Hunter, used a procedural motion to call some government members back to the lower house.<\/p>\n

As those members were leaving to return to the event, it is understood Mr Hunter said “enjoy your dim sum”.<\/p>\n

Labor MPs say Mr Hunter was looking at their colleague Sook Yee Lai when he made the comment.<\/p>\n

\"Sook<\/p>\n

Sook Yee Lai is the Labor member for Bibra Lake. (Supplied: Parliament of Western Australia)<\/p>\n

Ms Lai described herself as the “first Australian woman of Chinese heritage” to be elected to the WA parliament in her maiden speech.<\/p>\n

“Ms Lai took offence, believing the comment to be racist,” the leader of the lower house, David Michael said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Michael says Ms Lai took offence at the comment.\u00a0 (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n

A recording of the parliament sitting does not pick up the comment but does record Education Minister Sabine Winton responding by calling Mr Hunter an “arsehole”.<\/p>\n

The ABC has been told by a Labor source Ms Lai, Mr Hunter and Speaker Stephen Price met on Wednesday where the Nationals MP apologised for his comment.<\/p>\n

While parliament was sitting on Wednesday, Ms Winton apologised to the Legislative Assembly and withdrew what she described as an “unparliamentary phrase”.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Sabine Winton swore at Mr Hunter after his remark.\u00a0 (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n

Mr Hunter then stood to acknowledge he made a comment “which offended some members”.<\/p>\n

“I wish to withdraw that interjection,” he said, without apologising.<\/p>\n

Ms Lai has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n

‘Enjoy the croissant’<\/p>\n

In a statement, Mr Hunter said the remark had not been specifically addressed to Ms Lai.<\/p>\n

“I said to about half a dozen MPs leaving the chamber: ‘enjoy the dim sum, I’ll be there soon,'” he said.<\/p>\n

“I would say “enjoy the croissant” if it were a French event, or even “enjoy the lamb chop” if it were an Australia Day event.”<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Lachlan Hunter outside Parliament House in Perth, where he became embroiled in controversy after a Chinese New year function. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n

Speaking again later on Wednesday, Mr Hunter said Labor’s outrage about his comment was a “massive deflection” away from Ms Winton calling him an arsehole.<\/p>\n

“Somehow making this into a racially vilified comment, I find absolutely disgraceful.”<\/p>\n

No ‘racial overtones’: Zempilas<\/p>\n

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said Mr Hunter “doesn’t have anything to apologise for”.<\/p>\n

“I was there when he said it, I know the tone with which he said it, it was not racially motivated in the slightest,” Mr Zempilas said outside parliament.<\/p>\n

“There were no racial overtones whatsoever, he was commenting on the food that was being served and the music that we could hear in the chamber.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Basil Zempilas says the comment carried no racist suggestions at all.\u00a0 (ABC News: Angela Ho)<\/p>\n

Mr Zempilas said the “spirit of the exchange” was a “light-hearted reference” about Labor MPs being able to go back to the event to enjoy the food being served.<\/p>\n

“[It was] almost apologetic that he had called the quorum to distract them from that event, they could now go back,” he said.<\/p>\n

“[It’s] part of the theatre of politics.”<\/p>\n

\"Roger<\/p>\n

Roger Cook described the incident as “deeply disappointing.” (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n

Premier Roger Cook said it was “deeply disappointing” the incident occurred as parliament held a cultural celebration for Chinese New Year for the first time.<\/p>\n

“It’s up to everyone, including the leaders of all political parties in the chamber, to inform their teams about the expectations of the community on their behaviour.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Issue is ‘resolved’ says Love<\/p>\n

National Leader Shane Love said he was not in parliament at the time of the exchange, but noted Mr Hunter was the one who had taken offence.<\/p>\n

“As I understand it, the offence was to my member from a member of the Labor Party, a senior minister, who made some quite offensive remarks,” Mr Love said.<\/p>\n

\"Shane<\/p>\n

WA Nationals Leader Shane Love. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n

When asked about Mr Hunter’s comments directly, the Nationals Leader repeated a similar line several times.<\/p>\n

“I think the member for Central Wheatbelt and the member for Bibra Lake have had a conversation and that issue is resolved,” he said.<\/p>\n

He said it was his impression that the conversation, which included the Speaker, involved an apology from Mr Hunter.<\/p>\n

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