Bob Katter defended Mr Anning's speech, calling it "magnificent" and "solid gold". He said Senator Anning had no idea about the history of the term "Final Solution" and he fully supports his statements.
In Katter's words:
"It was a magnificent speech -- it was solid gold. And he stumbled on a bit of a malapropism* there, and, hey, he didn't go to university. He was out working, building pipelines for the coal and the gas and the oil, and working in Gladstone with a hard hat on. He's a member of the hard left, not the lily-pad left**. He didn't get to a university and know the significance of all these words."
* malapropism -- the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one
** lily-pad left -- a term Mr Katter uses to criticise people from the left of politics who disagree with his views
However, most other forces condemned Senator Anning's maiden speech, which was held late on Tuesday, August 14.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the government’s commitment to a non-discriminatory migration policy and a multicultural Australia.
He addressed the Senator's speech in an Address to the House of Representatives on Wednesday August 15.
In the words of PM Turnbull:
"We need to stand up for what we are; a free society, the most successful multicultural society in the world, united by democratic values that do not distinguish between race, religion, colour, cultural background.
A nation that is united in its commitment to respect, mutual respect for people of every religion, of every race, of every background.
We should be so proud of our achievement in today's world. It is remarkable, it is the envy of the world.
We should all here be proud of this and condemn - as we have - racism and discrimination of the kind so regrettably expressed, so shamefully expressed, by Senator Anning."
Also of interest
SBS panel discussion: Is Australia racist?
