Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sought to reassure the Chinese-Australian community they make an important contribution to the community, in the wake of comments made by a Nationals senator.
Labor leader Bill Shorten used the app WeChat to call on Barry O'Sullivan to apologise over comments made during a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday.
"There's a bigger chance of us having a biosecurity breach from some bloody old Chinaman that brings in his favourite sausage down the front of his undies," Senator O'Sullivan said during the hearing, which was exploring biosecurity issues.
Mr Shorten wrote the prime minister should "demonstrate some leadership" and ask Senator O'Sullivan to apologise.
"There is no place in our society for these offensive remarks about the Australian Chinese community," he said.
Mr Morrison responded with a WeChat message in Chinese, which translated reads: "Chinese Australians have a profound influence on Australia and are an important part of our Australian country today."
"For more than a decade, Chinese immigrants have worked hard to contribute new ideas, help shape Australia's identity and made outstanding contributions to the prosperity of Australian society," he added.
"The remarks made by Senator Barry O'Sullivan do not represent my views, nor do they represent the views of the Liberal National Party's coalition government."
Senator O'Sullivan has a history of making controversial comments in the Senate, including announcing his gender is female so he could not be "attacked" for his anti-abortion views.
