The Project issues a correction after slamming Scott Morrison

The Project embarrassingly made a factual error in an editorial countering Scott Morrison’s claim the show was responsible for a ‘disgraceful smear’ on his reputation.

The dispute between The Project and the Prime Minister erupted after star Waleed Aly’s emotional response to the Christchurch terrorist attack included the claim that Mr Morrison told colleagues to exploit voters’ fears of Muslim immigration as a political strategy in 2010. 

Mr Morrison slammed the claims as ‘lies’ and cancelled an appearance on the show.  

On Wednesday night, The Project host, Hamish MacDonald returned fire at the Prime Minister, saying: ‘The PM says he wants the truth. Well, here are some facts.’

Unfortunately, his speech almost immediately contained a factual error and The Project was forced to Tweet a correction shortly after it aired.

MacDonald said claims Morrison advocated an anti-Muslim election strategy were reported in 2010, when they were actually reported in 2011.  

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

Aly’s accusation against 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 said: ‘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.

‘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’