Horror at candidate's racist rant

Daniel Habermann rejects Peter Watson’s claims.

Georja Ryan

Poll

Do you think it was right for the ALP to expel disgraced Southern Downs candidate Peter Watson?

This poll ended on 29 February 2012.

Yes

38%

No

61%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

THERE is no doubt the Peter Watson political debacle has caused a stir, and as Mr Watson's history begins to surface, the more the pot boils.

Solicitor for Aboriginal Legal Services Daniel Habermann said he was horrified when he became aware of the newsletter, The Spearhead, of which Mr Watson is the editor, and disgusted with the views of the former Labor candidate for the Southern Downs.

"Obviously, Labor should have done their research, but it's also obvious that it's extremely embarrassing," Mr Habermann said.

"This way of thinking is not the typical Warwick way of thinking and I can't understand why he would do this."

He said the racial slurs that filled the pages were just not true, at least not in Australia.

"It's claiming every Aboriginal in the community is a violent criminal, which is not the case," Mr Habermann said.

"Aboriginal people are always a minority on the court list and the people that go to court are the exception rather than the rule."

He said he could not fathom how Mr Watson classed himself as a "traditional" Labor supporter.

"And this is not the traditional Labor Policy like he claims - it is so far right wing," Mr Habermann said.

"If he was a traditional Labor supporter, he would have been more inclined to side with the underdogs.

"Most right-thinking people think it's just outrageous and I'm just a concerned citizen who knows what I'm talking about," he said.