Waleed Aly has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for his stance on African gang violence in Melbourne, dismissing it as a desperate attempt to win votes.
Aly slammed Mr Turnbull’s ‘real’ concerns about Sudanese gangs during an eight-minute segment on The Project on Thursday night.
‘What’s interesting is I have lived in Melbourne and the only place I have heard concerns about Sudanese gangs is on talkback radio where the PM made those comments,’ Aly told viewers.
Waleed Aly, pictured with co-host Carrie Bickmore, had a message for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on The Project on Thursday night
‘I’m of African heritage and if there are African gangs running around, frankly, I’m offended not to be invited to be a part of one.’
To prove his point, Aly referred to the statistics, where crime in Victoria has dropped by nine per cent in the last year.
Aly admitted that while crimes committed by those of African descent were ‘over-represented’ and ‘unacceptable’ in some areas, they account for one per cent of crime, compared to 71 per cent of crime committed by Australian-born people.
‘What’s interesting is Australian-born Victorians were responsible for 71.7 per cent of the crime committed last year, meaning if you come across a criminal they’re 71.7 times more likely to be born in Australia,’ he said.
‘I’m not saying that African-Australians don’t commit crime. And I’m not denying that victims of those crimes have a right to feel afraid. But it’s just a fraction of the crime being committed, and to suggest a city is gripped by a fear of African gangs is just untrue.’
Aly’s views come after the prime minister (pictured) told talkback radio this week that ‘there is real concern about Sudanese gangs’
As July 29 Super Saturday federal by-elections draw near, Aly accused politicians of scaremongering in a desperate effort to win votes and called on them ‘to be honest’ about African gangs.
‘I’m sorry to say that I think it’s our politicians who aren’t being honest here,’ Aly said.
‘I think the government is facing the Super Saturday elections next week and, to put it crudely, they want to appear tough on Sudanese migrants, despite the fact those migrants are responsible for just one per cent of crime, because being tough on that community [gets] votes in this country.’
There was overwhelming praise of Aly’s swipe at the prime minister on social media.
People of African descent account for one per cent of crime in Victoria, compared to the 71 per cent of crime committed by Australian-born people
‘Well done with the reporting tonight. Facts need to be heard, this is a pattern of political football using vulnerable ethnic minorities for votes! It needs to be exposed, called out & publicly shamed,’ one woman tweeted.
Another added: ‘About time someone was courageous enough to speak the truth about Victorian Liberals’ blatant lies about African gangs.’
But not everyone agreed.
‘Sorry Waleed, but using the term ‘just 70′ when referring to violent home invasions by African youths is utterly offensive to the AT LEAST 70 people assaulted in their own homes,’ one woman tweeted.
‘I’m sorry to say that I think it’s our politicians who aren’t being honest here,’ Waleed Aly said