Michael Daley refuses to make unconditional apology for divisive comments

The politician said young Australians were being replaced by Asian immigrants

Shocking footage has emerged just days out form the upcoming state election

While Mr Daley said he 'meant no offence' he also stated: 'I call it as I see it'

Michael Daley has refused to issue an unconditional apology for controversial comments he made at a public function in September last year.

The New South Wales Labor leader had claimed during a 'politics in the pub' session in the Blue Mountains that young people were forced to 'flee' Sydney because their jobs were being taken by educated Asians.

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Speaking outside Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Tuesday, he admitted he could've used better language but declined the opportunity to apologise without qualification.

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Michael Daley (pictured) refused to issue an unconditional apology for controversial comments he made at a public function in September last year

The 53-year-old also stated he calls situations as he sees them.

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'One of the things you know about me is ... I call it as I see it,' Mr Daley said, reported The Daily Telegraph.

He also rebuffed the question of whether he would agree if his comments could be perceived as 'racist'.

Mr Daley (pictured centre) admitted he could've used better language but declined the opportunity to apologise without qualification

'We are in the Asian region — the statistics bear almost half of the immigrants to Australia are from the Asian region — particularly the skilled migration scheme,' Mr Daley continued.

'They're welcome to come to Sydney and I've said that, I've said it's not a bad thing because Asian kids are coming to work here, it's a bad thing because I'd like my daughter and others like her to remain here,' he concluded.

He continued to backtrack on his prior observations and claimed the issue was not with people coming from Asia, but housing affordability in Sydney.

(File picture) Mr Daley continued to backtrack on his prior observations and claimed the issue was not with people coming from Asia, but housing affordability in Sydney

Mr Daley stunned members of the audience when he spoke of the 'transformation' that was happening in Sydney with 'foreigners moving in taking jobs'

'I have conceded that my language could have been better, I've readily acknowledged that and if anyone has taken offence to what I've said, I do apologise,' he said.

'But I did make the point, and I make the point again today, that Sydney is becoming an increasingly difficult place to live in.

'Commutes are longer, people are having to move further away from the CBD, a fifth of Sydney families are suffering rental stress,' Mr Daley added.

In September 2018, Mr Daley stunned members of the audience when he spoke of the 'transformation' that was happening in Sydney with 'foreigners moving in taking jobs'.

NSW Labor leader Michael Daley (pictured with daughter Olivia, wife Christina and son Austin) has been recorded saying Asian immigrants were taking jobs from young Australians in extraordinary comments caught on camera

'Our young children will flee and who are they being replaced with? They are being replaced by young people from typically Asia with PhDs,' Mr Daley said in the video.

'So there's a transformation happening in Sydney now where our kids are moving out and foreigners are moving in and taking their jobs.'

When a man in the audience expressed his concern over Mr Daley's comments he went on to explain it was a statement of fact that young people were moving out of Sydney because they could not afford to afford to live there.

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He said they were being replaced by international workers, mainly from Asia.

'It's not a bad thing because Asian kids are coming to work here, it's a bad thing because I'd like my daughter to be living in Maroubra rather than St Kilda,' he said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has slammed Mr Daley, labelling him a 'hypocrite'

Two months after the video was filmed, Mr Daley spoke at Chinese-only press conference, where his sentiments were vastly different.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has slammed Mr Daley, labelling him a 'hypocrite'.

'He's prepared to say one thing to one group and completely change his position in front of another because he'll say whatever he thinks they want to hear. That's not what a real leader does.'

Greens MP David Shoebridge has called the video 'shameful and 'ugly'.

'Michael Daley's appalling narrow­casting is engaging in racist­ dog whistling against Asian Australians when he thinks no one critical is listening,' he told the Australian.

The man Mr Daley replaced as Labor leader, Luke Foley, was wildly criticised when in 2018 he used the term 'white flight' when referring to struggling western Sydney suburbs.

Population has been a mounting issue for Sydney and Melbourne, as pressure has been building with congestion and infrastructure.

Figures show about 70 and 80 per cent of all new permanent entrants choosing to live in the two major cities.

Greens MP David Shoebridge has called the video 'shameful and 'ugly'. 'Michael Daley¿s appalling narrow­casting is engaging in racist­ dog whistling against Asian Australians when he thinks no one critical is listening,' he said

The Government has been making moves to restrict immigration intake with the Expenditure Review Committee recently signing off on parts of its broader population policy, which will see an annual cap of 160,000 for permanent migration intake, The Australian reported.

The cap will replace the 190,000 ceiling that was imposed in 2015 in a bid to reduce numbers to a more manageable level.

The committee also signed off on a regional settlement policy that will require a set number of general skilled migrants to live in a different city – not Sydney or Melbourne – for a minimum of five years.

On Tuesday Mr Daley made a formal apology and explained he had been discussing housing affordability when he made the comments, expressing a desire for 'all our children' to continue living in Sydney if they chose.

'Many are being forced to leave Sydney because of high cost of living and property prices, notwithstanding some recent declines,' he said in a statement.

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'In making these points, I could have expressed myself better. I meant no offence and hope none has been taken.

'I apologise if any offence is taken.'

Mr Daley's predecessor Luke Foley was wildly criticised in 2018 when he used the term 'white flight' when referring to struggling western Sydney suburbs.