'Trivial, insensitive'

Morrison denounces Holocaust-quarantine links

PM Scott Morrison: "The Holocaust was an evil abomination. Respect for the victims requires that it never be referenced in such a trivial and insensitive manner."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Photo: Adam Taylor/PMO
Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Photo: Adam Taylor/PMO

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has slammed Queensland Nationals MP George Christensen for laughing at a comment comparing Australia’s COVID-19 quarantine facilities with the Holocaust.

Appearing on an American conspiracy theorist’s online show, Christensen laughed when the host equated Auschwitz with Australian quarantine facilities because they both had “big fences”.

Federal Labor MP Josh Burns tweeted on Tuesday morning that Christensen was “involved in false comparison to the Holocaust, again. Yet Scott Morrison will do nothing”. Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek added, “I think it is up to the Prime Minister to pull him into line.”

Late on Tuesday night, Morrison said he denounced the comments “in the strongest possible terms”.

“The Holocaust was an evil abomination,” he said.

“Respect for the victims requires that it never be referenced in such a trivial and insensitive manner.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce concurred: “Any parallel of domestic policy with the abomination which was the Holocaust requires an immediate rebuke,” he said.

Christensen, who is retiring at the next election, has previously compared COVID restrictions to Hitler’s regime.

read more:
comments

Support the Australian Jewish News and enjoy 3 months free website access.

The AJN has been delivering important, timely and free online news to our community — keeping you informed, connected, and engaged. To continue providing the high-quality, independent journalism you rely on, we need your support. From May 2025, we will be introducing a website paywall, but subscribers who sign up now will enjoy 3 months of free access to the AJN website. After the free period, full access will be just $18 per month. Subscribe today to help us keep our community’s stories alive and ensure the AJN thrives for years to come.

Lock in 3 Months Free Before the AJN Paywall Begins!

The Australian Jewish news website is introducing a new subscription model soon. Subscribe TODAY to secure 3 months of free access to the entire website and our wealth of important and impactful articles and news content. Don’t miss this early bird offer!

Register Now