What an absolutely bumper week for our government. After supposedly accidentally voting to support a motion put forth by One Nation that included a phrase heavily associated with white supremacy before swiftly backpedalling, the government is now defending itself from claims that Environment Minister Melissa Price was a massive ass to former president of Kiribati Anote Tong.
As first reported by Fairfax, Labor‘s Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Pat Dodson sent a letter to both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Price describing how Dodson was dining with Tong in Canberra last night when they were approached by Price.
According to Dodson, when he introduced Tong to Price, Price “remarked loudly, ‘I know why you’re here. It is for the cash. For the Pacific it’s always about cash. I have my chequebook here. How much do you want?’” Fairfax is reporting that president of the Refugee Council of Australia Phil Glendenning has corroborated Dodson’s version of events, in addition to the ABC reporting that “multiple sources” have told them that that is indeed what was said.
https://twitter.com/BevanShields/status/1052416409286914048
Price told parliament today that she rejected how Dodson (and the witnesses) described the conversation:
I’m very concerned that president Tong has been offended in any way.
I have spoken to Senator Dodson today and asked him if he was able to provide me with a contact number for president Tong because I 100 per cent disagree with what he has said was the conversation.
What I did say was that the Pacific is a very good friend and neighbour to Australia. In fact, that’s exactly what I said to president Tong last night.
According to Fairfax, Tong responded to the remarks by saying “nice to meet you“, later describing the incident as unfortunate.
In a statement, Price said that she and Tong had had a “very cordial and relaxed conversation“.
