Clash between a Muslim lawyer and far right organisation leader on ABC's Hack Live

Clash between a Muslim lawyer and far right organisation leader on ABC's Hack Live

THE leader of one of Australia’s new wave of far-right anti-Muslim groups was branded “dangerous” and “full of hate” during a fiery TV debate.

United Patriots Front (UPF) leader Blair Cottrell appeared on ABC2’s Hack Live on Thursday night discussing what it means to be an “Aussie patriot”.

The organisation wants a ban on all Muslim immigration to Australia. This week, an Essential poll found almost half of Australians shared that view.

Mr Cottrell also shocked other panellists on the show when he replied “so what” to a question about European settlers killing indigenous Australians.

In a taped piece before the debate Mr Cottrell admitted he was a racist.

“I don’t view myself as far right or neo Nazi but by standard of the current political system, yes I am a racist.”

He said Australia’s culture was “being slowly eroded” and hinted he could resort to violence for his beliefs.

“For me it’s either success, prison or death.”

Lawyer and community advocate Lydia Shelly said Mr Cottrell’s views and those of radicalised Muslims were “two sides of the same coin”.

Mr Cottrell said the comparison wasn’t fair. “I haven’t beheaded anybody or killed anybody so I think it’s a long shot.”

But former Australian soldier Andrew Fox-Lane, who was also on the show, pointed out the UPF head had spent time in prison for stalking his ex-girlfriend’s partner.

Mr Cottrell said he was “much wiser” for the experience.

Host Tom Tilley asked Mr Cottrell’s to explain why he would say he would die for his views.

“I’m fighting for my people.”

Were Muslims Australian people too, asked Tilley?

“If they’re willing to live by Australian standards certainly (but) we have a culture that is not Islam.”

Turning to Ms Shelly, who has converted to Islam, he said, “If you’re going to live by Australian standards you’re kafir. Your brothers abroad would consider you kafir.”

Kafir is an Arabic term for someone who does not believe in God.

It’s fair to say, Ms Shelley was not impressed by Mr Cottrell’s lesson in religion.

“I didn’t know you were a scholar of Islam. You don’t need to school me on Islam,” she shot back.

Mr Fox-Lane said when he had served in Afghanistan, the troops were made welcome by much of the population with one farmer even bringing his soldiers lunch as they walked through his field.

With absolutely no sense of irony, considering UPF wants to ban all Muslim immigration due to the actions of a small number of terrorists, Mr Cottrell rubbished the example.

“To suggest that a quarter of world’s population ought to be judged on the behaviour and action of a single member of that collective, it’s quite small minded.”

Mr Cottrell also brushed past the role of British settlers in the killing of indigenous Australians, saying it would have been even worse if Chinese or Muslims had reached the continent instead.

Indigenous writer and activist Nayuka Gorrie gave Mr Cottrell short shrift saying he was full of “what ifs” rather than facing up to what actually happened.

“It’s not Muslims who fought against my people, it was white people,” she said.

“We already lost a lot and that was from your ancestors.”

Tilly chipped in, “We massacred indigenous people Blair.”

“And so what, is there any proof of that anyway?” Mr Cottrell said to gasps.

“You’re not making it easy for our mob. You are dangerous, you are so dangerous,” said Ms Gorrie.

“You are about hate, dude.”

On Thursday, video footage emerged of another confrontation between a UPF member and a Muslim woman in Perth.

On Curtin University’s campus a man wearing a Pauline Hanson T-shirt was angrily shouted at by an unidentified woman in headscarf.

“You have no right to be on this campus, you’re not welcome here,” she shouted.

The man in the Hanson top responded: “I have an appointment here, I’m a former student. I have as much right to be here as you or anyone else.”

The woman responded: “Why are you wearing a Pauline Hanson shirt? What, do you want to punch me in the face?”

Turning to others students she pointed at the man and shouts. “He’s a fascist; he has no right to be here; all he wants to do is demonise us.

“Muslims have had enough get off this campus you are not welcome here.”

It later emerged the man was Dennis Huts, the leader of the UPF’s Perth wing.

Mr Huts has been in the middle of angry exchanges before. In May, police had to break up a scuffle that erupted when right-wing protesters clashed with supporters of the LGBTI Safe Schools Coalition program.