Labor hypocrites on Nazi slur: Frydenberg

Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Labor are being hypocrites over the prime minister's inappropriate use of the name "Goebbels".

Josh Frydenberg

Josh Frydenberg has condemned the use of Goebbels analogies in modern politics as inappropriate. (AAP)

Josh Frydenberg doesn't think it is appropriate to use holocaust and Goebbels analogies in modern politics.

But the Jewish assistant treasurer says Federal Labor are hypocrites when condemning such terms.

In the heat of parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week labelled Opposition Leader Bill Shorten the "Dr Goebbels of economic policy", likening him to the Nazi minister for propaganda.

It drew a scathing response from Labor.

Mr Abbott had also used the term "holocaust" a few weeks earlier.

"I don't like the use of `Goebbels' in terms of political discourse," Mr Frydenberg told Network Ten.

"That being said, Labor has engaged in mass hypocrisy here."

He said the likes of former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan and shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus have made similar comments.

"Even Bill Shorten last year talked about the "book burning instincts" of the coalition. We all know that has a reference back to 1933 Germany," he said.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world