Controversial senator Fraser Anning is under fire for his attendance of a Melbourne rally organised by ultra-nationalists.
Senator Anning insists he was representing his constituents at this weekend's rally, and he claims his state is experiencing violence from African gangs.
Queensland senator Fraser Anning said he won't be forking out money from his own pocket to pay for the growing bill charged to taxpayers for his attendance at three far-right events.
The combined cost tallies up to nearly $10,000.
Mr Anning's presence at Saturday's rally at Melbourne's St Kilda beach, organised by ultra-national group The United Patriots Front, attracted criticism from politicians across the political divide.
Defending his actions, Mr Anning said he has strong views about Muslim and Sudanese migrants.
"I would not bring any more Muslims or Sudanese in the country. I would put a ban on that. And if any of them committed a crime, I would be shipping them home to where they came from."
Last year in August in his maiden speech to parliament, Mr Anning first made the call for a ban on Muslim migration, and also urged a return to the White Australia policy.
Source: AAP
He said criticism from his parliamentary colleagues that rally organisers and supporters were promoting racism and violence are unjustified.
"There was no racist rally," he told the Nine Network's Today Show, while also insisting he is not a racist himself.
"There were decent Australian people who demonstrated their dislike for what the Australian government has done which has allowed these people to come into this country and then bash people at random on the beaches, in their homes."
Video and images of the rally shows members and supporters of the United Patriots Front giving Nazi salutes.
Senator Anning said the people he chose to stand next to at the rally were not giving Nazi salutes.
"The people I was with weren't doing any Nazi salutes. There was a group about 100 metres down the road and I could hear all the yelling and screaming and I guess that is where they got all their footage from."
He distanced himself from rally co-organiser Blair Cottrell, who has a criminal record for racial vilification, violent assaults and trafficking testosterone.
Ugly scenes at the St Kilda foreshore in Melbourne as far-right groups face off with anti-racism groups. Large group of police watch on. Source: AAP
Cottrell has also expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler, saying his portrait should be in every Australian classroom.
Senator Anning said he only met Blair Cottrell for the first time on Saturday at the rally.
"That was the first time I had ever seen or met that person was there on the day. And obviously I don't support any views like that. I'm a supporter of the Jewish community. And I fight hard for the Israelis as everyone knows, if you see what I've done in the Senate."
Melbourne’s Vietnamese community has distanced itself from Fraser Anning. Source: Facebook (Fraser Anning)
