Mark Latham's comments describing the Sydney suburb of Lakemba as an "ethnic enclave" haven't gone down well with the area's sitting MP Jihad Dib.
The former federal Labor leader told Sky News on Monday: "The whole theory of multiculturalism established by Whitlam and Fraser in the 1970s was to have a blended integrated society. It was not envisaged you would have a place like Lakemba in Western Sydney, which is 65 per cent Islamic."
"It was not envisaged that you would have ethnic enclaves. I would like to see a parliamentary inquiry into that and some changes to public housing policy to help disperse people across communities," Mr Latham said, in a week where he began heavy campaigning ahead of the NSW election on March 23.
Labor MP Jihad Dib, who was the first Muslim MP to represent the Lakemba seat, hit back at Mr Latham and the One Nation party, saying they "intended to break down the community".
Mark Latham One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Source: AAP
“This is typical Mark Latham, whoever listens to what he says will know he’s against multiculturalism,” Mr Dib told SBS Arabic24 during the Tuesday morning talkback segment.
“We have people from 150 different cultural backgrounds in Lakemba. If I’m re-elected I’ll stand up to Mark Latham, Pauline Hanson, Fraser Anning and anyone who attacks multiculturalism."
Mr Dib, a former school principal who was elected to the Lakemba seat in 2015, said Labor would refuse to team up with One Nation because "all they do is attack multicultural Australia".
“I take pride in being the first MP to defend my community against such accusations," Mr Dib said.
"If anybody shames our ethnic communities, I’ll stand up for them.”
Lakemba has the highest proportion of Muslims in NSW.
Mr Latham is running for an eight-year term in the NSW upper house, while the party is fielding scores of candidates across lower house seats.
Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek and NSW Shadow Minister for Education Jihad Dib are seen visiting a public school, in Western Sydney. Source: AAP
On Monday, broadcaster Alan Jones threw his support behind Mr Latham, donating money towards his campaign.
Mr Latham is a regular guest on Jones' popular breakfast radio program and the pair wrote a cookbook together in 2018 - titled Conversations in the Kitchen.
Mr Latham said no-one in the Australian media had a "bigger, thoroughly researched interest" in public policy debate than Jones.
"My campaign is honoured to have received his donation support and I aim not to let him and other supporters down as I pursue our policy agenda in NSW Parliament if elected."
