Senator Fraser Anning has been overwhelmingly voted to be censured. In a bipartisan motion, the senate voted on Wednesday to censure Senator Anning.
The senate said Anning comments were “seeking to attribute blame to victims of a horrific crime and vilify people on the basis of religion” and does not reflect the opinions of the Senate or of Australians.
Following the New Zealand attack, which was live streamed via facebook, Anning suggested a link existed between Muslim immigration and violence.
He denounced the attack in New Zealand and insisted it represented what he called the “growing fear of muslim presence”
Labor’s party Penny Wong said the senator’s comments blamed the victims “(when) families, friends, communities of those lost were still reeling from the shock,” accusing Anning of embracing hate speech.
An online petition calling for Anning’s removal from the senate has gained more than 1.4 million signatures, which has gone on parliaments permanent record. However, he senate cannot remove a senator unless they are convicted of a crime or ruled ineligible.
The gunman, Brenton Tarrant, will reappear in court this Friday.
