Billionaire mining magnate and philanthropist Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has warned Australia could be “split down the middle” with rising racism and violence.
He took particular aim at what he called the “misleading” media for sowing division.
“I believe in free press. I don’t mind opinionated press. I do, however, reject inaccurate or deliberately misleading press,” he said in a statement.
“I worry that Australia will be split down the middle in a similar manner to what’s transpired in other countries around the world and know that this incites racism and violence,” he added.
Australia has seen a rising number of verbal and physical attacks particularly against Asian Australians in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It's a trend the Prime Minister has called out saying Australians need to band together during this difficult time.
Mr Forrest also denied suggestions that Health Minister Greg Hunt was “ambushed” at a press conference earlier in the week when he invited Victoria's Chinese consul-general Long Zhou to speak alongside the minister.
“When given the choice on the day, the Minister agreed the Consul General could speak. Minister Hunt is a decisive leader, and this was not a pressured environment. The idea of the event being hijacked or ambushed is false,” he said in the statement.
Mr Forrest said Australia needed to keep its heart and mind open to both America and China and rejected those pushing for more isolation.
“I have found in both business and philanthropy that strong relationships are important all over the world. I will crack on with helping my country, unapologetic to those who think racism or isolationism is a viable path for Australia,” he said.
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