‘Stirring up fear’: Greens MP Adam Bandt doubles down on comments

Greens MP Adam Bandt is standing by his comments accusing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton of “whipping up fear” to win votes.

Mr Bandt today told Tom Elliott on 3AW Drive crime was decreasing in Victoria and by and large, multiculturalism worked well in Victoria.

“My point was if you are going to come to Melbourne and try and stir up fear, don’t do it, you’re not welcome,” he said.

“We’ve actually seen in the past, going back a decade or so, we’ve seen people being beaten to death on our streets because of the colour of our skin, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Tom: At the 2016 the Coalition won 42 per cent of the popular vote and the Greens won just 13, you’ve won less than a third of the votes that Malcolm Turnbull’s party did, is it appropriate to tell him he’s not welcome here?

Mr Bandt: I don’t think Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Dutton, who comes from Queensland, actually understand Victoria or Melbourne at all.

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