NSW Premier Chris Minn has caused a political uproar with just one word—“no.” That was his answer when asked if, were he to be called “a stupid white bastard,” he would feel the term was racist.
The question relates to the charge laid in the UK against Matildas Captain Sam Kerr.
She is alleged to have used the phrase during an altercation with a London police officer over a taxi fare in Twickenham on Jan. 30. She has been charged by summons with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer, and appeared in court by video link to enter a not guilty plea. A hearing has been set down for April 26, when her defence is expected to seek to have the case dismissed as an abuse of process. If that fails, a four-day trial is scheduled for February next year.
Premier Should ‘Set the Standard’: Upper House MP
“I’ll call that out straight away,” said Upper House MP Rod Roberts, a former detective sergeant in the NSW Police. “Let’s reverse it and if someone called someone a stupid black bastard, we wouldn’t tolerate that,” he said. “They’d rush you right before an anti-discrimination board. We don’t stand for discrimination of any type at all, and it’s incumbent on our premier to set that standard.”He said a police officer is “in a position of authority, which deserves respect.”
One Nation MP Tania Mihailuk, who previously served alongside Mr. Minns in the Labor Party until she defected in 2022, also criticised the Premier’s position.
“The Premier has just endorsed racism. He also exposed himself as a total hypocrite, pandering to populism at the expense of sound judgement,” she said.
“How can a premier endorse the use of such inappropriate language? What message does this send to our kids from the leader of our state?” she said.
Opposition Leader Had the Same Answer
However, NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman also answered “no” when asked if the alleged phrase is racist, while Health Minister Ryan Park said: “I’ve been called a lot worse, so no.”That was echoed by former Socceroo Robbie Slater, who also said he’s been “called a lot worse.”
“Without trivialising what she might have said, it sounds like something silly might have happened, it’s a bizarre thing,” he said. “I think Sam might have had a few too many on one evening and probably said something stupid, but a four-day trial—I mean you’d walk into Downing Street Court and I think you’d be out within the hour for something like this.
“You can’t trivialise racism, but like I said, I’ve been called a lot worse.”
Libertarian Upper House MP John Ruddick said if the allegations are true, then it was “textbook racism.” However he believed “it’s pathetic to make a big deal out of it.”
Scrap Anti-Discrimination Laws: Matt Canavan
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan used the issue to campaign for the scrapping of anti-discrimination law in Australia, tweeting: “I for one welcome the news that simply describing someone’s race is no longer considered RaCiSt!!! Time to gut all of our discrimination laws, human rights commissions, etc that only exist to divide us and police fake racism scandals.”Ms. Kerr allegedly made the comment after being sick in the back of a taxi after celebrating a victory in which she scored three goals against Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson called the allegation “unsettling” and “very serious” but Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said Ms. Kerr had the team’s full support. “She knows that. It’s a difficult time for her, it’s really important I get that across. It’s something I really value.”
If found guilty, Ms. Kerr faces a fine or a maximum jail sentence of six months.
