Demoted former cabinet minister Eric Abetz has used the offensive word “negro” while defending his opposition to same-sex marriage during a radio interview.
Speaking to 2UE’s Justin Smith on Thursday afternoon, Mr Abetz – a strident opponent of gay marriage – dropped the dated slur, considered offensive to black people, when rejecting the suggestion that refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding was akin to discriminating against Asian people.
“Those sort of analogies are quite offensive and that sort of analogy was completely debunked by Justice Clarence Thomas, the negro American on the Supreme Court of the United States dealing with this issue … who dissented on the issue of marriage as well,” Senator Abetz said.
Smith interjected, questioning his use of the word, however Mr Abetz continued, saying “trying to bring race into it has now been completely dropped”.
The Oxford Dictionary says the word “negro” is an offensive term referring to a member of a black or dark-skinned group of peoples that exist or originated in Africa south of the Sahara.
It also refers to a name applied by colonists in Australia to Aboriginal people.
In November last year the US Army was reportedly forced to apologise after it emerged official policy stated it was acceptable to refer to a black service member as a “negro”.
A new policy limits the acceptable terms to “Black or African American”.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last month dumped Senator Abetz from the positions of leader of the government in the upper house and employment minister, creating a younger cabinet and a “21st-century government”.It is not the first time the conservative Tasmanian senator has committed a verbal slip-up.
Appearing on Channel Ten program The Project in August last year, Senator Abetz said numerous studies “assert that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer”. He later denied drawing the link and said he was cut off before finishing his sentence.
In August this year he lashed out at his own colleagues leaking from cabinet, describing them as “gutless” just one day after then-prime minister Tony Abbott ordered his team to stay on message.
Earlier on Thursday, Senator Abetz unleashed a blistering attack on a proposal to have the current Parliament vote in favour of same-sex marriage ahead of a 2017 plebiscite, describing it as a “thought bubble” and “ambush to boot”.
• Mike Moore, Hervey Bay: I wish Eric had a friend with the courage to tell him that it is no longer 1950.
• Old Man A Ross: This DODO Bird is thoroughly locked in an ultra-conservative past that virtually no-one else inhabits.
• John Hawkins in Comments: Luigi #17. I hear today that Abetz is going to stand at the next Senate Election. I heartily concur with your suggestion Abetz as #4 on the Liberal Senate ticket. His enormous popularity with the electors will still see him elected and a Liberal triumph will have been achieved……
• Leo Schofield in Comments: I met the odious Abetz but once. It was at a dinner at Government House hosted by the former governor, the late Peter Underwood in honour of the recently appointed Australian Ambassador to France who is gay and has a long-term partner. It must have galled Abetz to be seated at the same table. Over coffee afterwards I tried to avoid meeting him but was propelled in his direction and introduced. A saurian smile formed on his face and he said, in a voice larded with menace and forced through gritted teeth: “You’ve written things about me.” The man is seriously scary.
• John Hawkins in Comments: The Examiner has run yet another Abetz puff piece which includes this magnificent quote from Abetz; “You get into politics to serve not to succeed.” His comment epitomises the convoluted thinking of this sacked Liberal troublemaker. Most people endeavour to succeed … not Tasmania’s number one on the ticket Senator Abetz. Why?
