New South Wales Senator David Leyonhjelm has invited controversial far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos to speak at Australia’s Parliament House during his tour of Australia.
Yiannopoulos has been embroiled in controversy during his public life, describing feminism as “cancer”, appearing to condone paedophilia and denying the existence of rape culture.
The former Breitbart tech editor also had a events in the US cancelled last year due to security concerns, and was removed from Twitter after leading a racist charge against SNL star Leslie Jones.
Senator Leyonhjelm, a Liberal Democrat, says he extended the invitation to Yiannopoulos as he “speaks about issues that are of relevance to Australians, such as political correctness, gender identity, freedom of speech.”
“I know some of our media are highly opinionated, but I don’t think they are a threat to security,” Leyonhjelm told the ABC.
Greens’ Senator Janet Rice has tweeted a virtual eye roll over the event, suggesting she would be too busy stabbing herself in the eye with a fork.
Received invite from David Leyonhjelm who is hosting Milo Yiannopolous at parliament.
Apologies I cannot attend, will be v busy be stabbing myself in the eye with a fork.
— Janet Rice (@janet_rice) November 23, 2017
Fellow Green Sarah Hanson-Young was less jocular about the news, writing a scathing email to Leyonhjelm over the invitation.
“It astounds me that a member of our Parliament would roll out the red carpet to a white supremacist and paedophilia apologist,” Hanson-Young wrote.
“A man who travels the world spreading racism and sexist drivel, who believes there’s no such thing as rape culture is not welcome in our safe and respectful house of democracy.”
OIP Staff
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