Green Party leader Richard Di Natale says bringing South African farmers into Australia under a specific humanitarian project is a step back to White Australia.
Richard Di Natale
House minister Darden (Peter Dutton) says white South African farmers are receiving persecution and need special attention. They should come to Australia.
Senator Di Natale called it racist.
"I don`t think there`s much to argue with. That guy is a complete racist." Senator Di Natale said.
"Darden thinks that if you are a white South African farmer, you will make a great contribution to Australia and you will not eat welfare."
"but if you`re not white, none of this applies."
Senator Di Natale said it was strange that Darden wanted to decide on a limited treatment based on people`s skin color.
"he believes that South African farmers are different from other people who receive persecution.
A spokesman for Darden declined to respond to the Greens leader`s statement, saying "the minister has nothing to add at this stage."
In addition to the domestic political situation, the issue also caused a rare diplomatic dispute in South Africa.
South Africa has asked Darden to withdraw his claim that white farmers in South Africa are being "persecution" and that a "civilized country" needs a special visa to protect them.
