The Project hits back at Scott Morrison over anti-Muslim sentiment allegations

The Project has hit back at Scott Morrison after the Prime Minister pulled out of the show over claims he had once suggested his party use anti-Muslim scare tactics for political gain.

Host Waleed Aly took aim at anti-Muslim sentiment in politics in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack on Friday night, and claimed Mr Morrison had suggested in 2011 that his party exploit Muslim immigration concerns as a political strategy.

Mr Morrison has strongly denied the accusation and even cancelled an appearance on the show, according to Project host Hamish MacDonald.

Host Waleed Aly took aim at anti-Muslim sentiment in politics in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack on Friday night, and claimed Mr Morrison (pictured) had suggested in 2011 that his party exploit Muslim immigration concerns as a political strategy

‘Now we offered Mr Morrison the opportunity to respond live on this desk when he was due to appear on this program on Monday,’ Macdonald said on Wednesday night.

‘Not only did he decline but his media team pulled him out of the scheduled appearance altogether.’ 

MacDonald went one step further to claim Mr Morrison’s response to Aly had dragged the host into an ‘ugly political fight’. 

Aly’s accusation against Mr Morrison was drawn from a 2011 report published in the Sydney Morning Herald that said Morrison – then only a member of parliament – had brought up the strategy at a meeting but it was knocked back. 

‘I know there are media reports going back eight years at a shadow cabinet meeting in which another senior politician suggested his party should use community concerns about Muslims in Australia failing to integrate as a political strategy,’ he said.

‘That person is now the most senior politician we have,’ he added in an apparent swipe at Mr Morrison.

On whether or not the meeting happened, MacDonald had only this to say.

‘In truth, no-one but those in that room can now say for sure what was said and there does seem to be two very distinct versions,’ Macdonald said.

‘But we as a country know what our leaders have been saying about refugees and immigrants and Muslims for well over a decade.’

MacDonald compared Mr Morrison’s heated response to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

‘If anything paints a clearer picture on the state of Australian politics today it is this; after Waleed made that genuine, thoughtful, and reasoned contribution on Friday night — a plea for our community to come together — the Prime Minister of our country threatened to sue.

Aly’s accusation against Mr Morrison was drawn from a 2011 report published in the Sydney Morning Herald that said Morrison – then only a member of parliament – had brought up the strategy at a meeting but it was knocked back

‘In contrast, New Zealand’s Prime Minister invited Waleed to her country to sit down for an interview.

‘If you want to know why I’m here tonight and not Waleed that’s why, that’s where he is.’  

Mr Morrison aimed his criticism at Aly earlier on Wednesday on ABC TV and labelled the accusation an ‘appalling lie’.

He pointed out he had a long history of working with the Islamic community. 

‘That’s why I’m welcomed when I attend mosques in south-western Sydney, with warm embraces,’ he said. 

‘Perhaps if people focused a bit more on the story they don’t want to tell about my relationship with people of all faiths in this community, then perhaps they wouldn’t leap to make prejudiced conclusions.’

The PM also said he would not sue after his office previously called Aly’s comments defamatory.  

 Mr Morrison aimed his criticism at Aly earlier on Wednesday on ABC TV and labelled the accusation an ‘appalling lie’