Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is reportedly considering taking legal action against independent MP Zali Steggall for calling him a racist. Photo: Peter Dutton.
The Liberal Party starts this week in Federal Parliament distracted by the threat of legal action on two fronts.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is reportedly considering taking legal action against independent MP Zali Steggall for calling him a racist over his motion to debate Gaza visas and calling for a ban on people fleeing the war-torn Palestinian territory.
Ms Steggal’s initial heated remarks were made in the House of Representatives under the protection of parliamentary privilege.
The independent MP became noticeably frustrated with Mr Dutton’s interjections while she was addressing the chamber.
“We heard you in silence,” she shouted at Mr Dutton.
“You can hear me in silence. Stop being racist.”
But she repeated the accusations, however, in subsequent media interviews, prompting the Opposition Leader to seek legal advice.
Mr Dutton defended himself against the accusations in subsequent media interviews.
“I’m not a racist, and I’m not going to be standing here as a punching bag for people like Zali Steggall,” he told Today.
“I actually think, ironically, that them calling out people unnecessarily and unrealistically and unjustly as racists, they’re actually fuelling tensions.”
Perhaps more troubling for the Liberals, however, is the NSW branch, which is in chaos over failing to register candidates for local government elections across the state.
As heads continue to roll in the state executive, and the federal party threatens to take over the NSW branch, some candidates whose nominations weren’t lodged in time are talking about a class action against the NSW Liberal Party for loss of councillor earnings.
For its part, the state party has accused the NSW Electoral Commission of breaking the rules.
The NSW Liberal Party has flagged the possibility of it suing the state’s electoral commission after the party’s second request for an extension.
“This mistake is not just a technicality—it goes to the heart of ensuring a fair and transparent election,” the NSW Liberal Party said in a statement on Sunday (18 August).
“Despite acknowledging this error, the NSW Electoral Commission has chosen not to extend the nomination deadline by seven days, a simple remedy well within its powers under clause 286 of the same regulation.
“Should the NSW Electoral Commission fail to act, the Liberal Party of Australia NSW Division will be left with no other option but to pursue legal avenues to compel it to extend the nomination deadline.”
But the electoral commission is holding firm, stating it’s not changing its position.
“On the basis of the available information, the commissioner was not satisfied that it is possible to lawfully extend the nomination period in line with the request,” the commission’s statement said.
“And even if it were, it would not be appropriate to do so given the very significant ramifications it would have for the conduct of the elections.”
Asked about both issues on Sunday, Anthony Albanese described the Liberals as dysfunctional.
“There’s been a few reports about legal action from members of the Liberal Party today, whether it be Peter Dutton or the New South Wales Liberal Party, taking legal action because they couldn’t get their act together to put in nominations for local government,” the Prime Minister said.
“This farce was rejected by the Electoral Commission yesterday, and of course, legal action is just stringing out what was a complete stuff-up.
“If you can’t even get your act together to nominate for council elections, I think it says everything about the dysfunction that’s there in the Liberal Party.
“They’re too busy fighting each other and too busy not fighting for Australia’s national interest.
“It’s pretty clear. Everyone knows when nominations close. Everyone else managed to get their act together to get in nominations. They got some in, some not. It’s interesting the factional disputes that appear to be bubbling to the surface, once again.
“It’s up to the Liberal Party to explain how, in some council areas, some nominations got in, and some seem to go missing and not get in. But that’s a matter for them.”
On the issue of Gaza and Mr Dutton’s concerns over visas and national security, and about him seeking legal action over being called a racist, the PM said the Opposition Leader was playing politics.
“Peter Dutton plays politics at every opportunity,” he said.
“He doesn’t talk about issues of concern to Australians. What he does is try and whip up fear. That’s something I’ll leave to him. I think people will make their own judgment about Peter Dutton.
“The fact is that the borders at the moment are closed, of course, through the Rafah crossing. This is the fact.
“The fact is also that I have confidence in ASIO and in our security agencies. It’s up to Peter Dutton to explain why it is that he’s questioning those security agencies and the procedures that they have in place.”
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