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Labor election pamphlet a ‘thinly veiled racist attack’ | Labor election pamphlet a ‘thinly veiled racist attack’ |
(6 months later) | |
The South Australian Labor party has been accused of racism over an election pamphlet aimed at Liberal candidate Carolyn Habib in the marginal Adelaide seat of Elder. | The South Australian Labor party has been accused of racism over an election pamphlet aimed at Liberal candidate Carolyn Habib in the marginal Adelaide seat of Elder. |
The pamphlet features the image of a crumbling brick wall and stamped lettering spelling out “Can you trust Habib?” The content criticises the Liberal party’s health, council rates and transport policies. | The pamphlet features the image of a crumbling brick wall and stamped lettering spelling out “Can you trust Habib?” The content criticises the Liberal party’s health, council rates and transport policies. |
Habib told ABC radio on Wednesday morning that the leaflet was a “thinly veiled racist attack” targeting her Lebanese heritage. | |
She said she was surprised that “somebody would stoop to this level to win the seat” in Saturday’s state election. | She said she was surprised that “somebody would stoop to this level to win the seat” in Saturday’s state election. |
“I grew up in Alice Springs, I was born in Alice Springs and everyone who has met me knows how Australian I am,” Habib said. | “I grew up in Alice Springs, I was born in Alice Springs and everyone who has met me knows how Australian I am,” Habib said. |
“I am really surprised this has come in and it’s just such a low. We should be talking about things that are important to the community, not feeding into a racist attack.” | “I am really surprised this has come in and it’s just such a low. We should be talking about things that are important to the community, not feeding into a racist attack.” |
An electoral redistribution in August 2012 left the Labor-held seat of Elder with a margin of just 1.7%, down from 3.7%. | An electoral redistribution in August 2012 left the Labor-held seat of Elder with a margin of just 1.7%, down from 3.7%. |
South Australian premier Jay Weatherill said the Liberal party should go to the electoral commission if it had a complaint. | South Australian premier Jay Weatherill said the Liberal party should go to the electoral commission if it had a complaint. |
Labor campaign spokesman Tom Koutsantonis told the ABC he did not think the pamphlet was racist and the leaflet was attacking Habib’s local government experience. | Labor campaign spokesman Tom Koutsantonis told the ABC he did not think the pamphlet was racist and the leaflet was attacking Habib’s local government experience. |
“Racism is abhorrent and I know because it’s been targeted at me and I can tell you that this is not a racist attack,” he said. | “Racism is abhorrent and I know because it’s been targeted at me and I can tell you that this is not a racist attack,” he said. |
“I don’t think anyone in the Labor party thinks that Mrs Habib’s ethnicity in any way has any impact on her ability to run for parliament.” | “I don’t think anyone in the Labor party thinks that Mrs Habib’s ethnicity in any way has any impact on her ability to run for parliament.” |
Earlier on Wednesday the opposition leader, Steven Marshall, described the flyer as “disgraceful” and said he thought it was a shot at Habib’s surname. | Earlier on Wednesday the opposition leader, Steven Marshall, described the flyer as “disgraceful” and said he thought it was a shot at Habib’s surname. |
“It makes no reference to her Christian name whatsoever, there’s a big headline regarding Habib with a very unattractive layout for that brochure,” Marshall told News Corp Australia. | “It makes no reference to her Christian name whatsoever, there’s a big headline regarding Habib with a very unattractive layout for that brochure,” Marshall told News Corp Australia. |
“It’s a dog whistle, it’s completely outrageous that the government would use this type of material. There is no place for racism in SA politics, there’s no place for racism in Australia.” | “It’s a dog whistle, it’s completely outrageous that the government would use this type of material. There is no place for racism in SA politics, there’s no place for racism in Australia.” |
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