Fraser Anning’s ‘White Australia’ plebiscite killed off in Senate

Senators have killed off Fraser Anning’s plebiscite to end non-white immigration. The Katter’s Australian Party’s senator proposed a return to “White Australia” policy on Thursday, but his colleagues immediately rejected it.

According to AAP, Anning tried to postpone the debate until next month. However, the government, Labor, Greens and some of the crossbench refused the deferral and had his bill put to a vote immediately just to struck it down.

“The bill only asks for a plebiscite to give the Australian people a say on who comes to this country,” Anning told the Parliament. “I can’t think of anything more democratic than that, but apparently, everyone else in this room can.”

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said it was “racist, xenophobic, hate-filled” and that it had no place in the Senate. Labor Senator Jacinta Collins said they should not postpone debating on the bill because they would just let it fester.

“Australia left behind the White Australia policy 50 years ago and it should remain well in the past,” she said.

Senate leader Mathias Cormann said Australia has become a richer, better and stronger country by welcoming people from all over the world.

This wasn’t the first time Anning has appalled the Senate with his “White Australia” proposal. He had mentioned the same in his controversial maiden speech in August, saying the “final solution” to Australia’s immigration problem was a popular vote. He had called for the complete overhaul of the country’s immigration system so they could recognise the importance of “our predominantly European identity.”

Back then, the leader of his political party, Bob Katter, had backed him “1000 percent.” However, when Anning linked immigrants to “rapings, bashings, carjackings and gang-related crime” in a media release last week, he said it was already becoming a “problem for our party.”

Party president Shane Paulger has apparently also “expressed some very grave reservations.”

Pauline Hanson’s ‘It’s OK to be white’

Anning’s proposal wasn’t the only controversy in the Parliament this week. One Nation Pauline Hanson set forth her “It’s OK to be white” motion on Monday, which did not get enough votes but was initially supported by some Liberal senators. But when it recommitted the next day, those who first backed it had claimed confusion.