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Young LNP leader faces racism backlash after schoolies interview

A Young LNP leader in Queensland could be dumped after he was filmed laughing at a teenager saying Australia should ā€œstop celebrating a culture that couldn’t even invent the bloody wheelā€.

Barclay McGain, chairman of the Gold Coast Young LNP, is under investigation by his own party over what the state’s Labor government has called disturbing, racist comments about Australian Aboriginal culture.

Mr McGain has been condemned on social media after he was filmed interviewing school leavers on the Gold Coast about whether the Australian flag and anthem should be ā€œkept or ditchedā€.

The scandal has spread to the federal political arena amid calls for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to ā€œroot out the extremistsā€.

ā€œThis goes beyond a few kids. There is a deep cultural problem in the @LNPQLD that fosters racist and extremist thought,ā€ Labor Senator Murray Watt tweeted.

ā€œThe Prime Minister must show leadership and root out the extremists from his Queensland ranks.ā€

In footage posted online, he’s seen laughing when one school leaver says: ā€œI’m fed up with having all these sports stars stand out on our stages and not sing the national anthem.

ā€œI mean we’ve got to stop celebrating a culture that couldn’t even invent the bloody wheel for God’s sake. We’ve got to start enjoying and living in Western culture.ā€

The young school leaver who made the comments has identified as an LNP volunteer who’s regularly been photographed with senior LNP and Coalition figures including Mr Morrison and former PM Malcolm Turnbull.

The footage was posted on the Gold Coast Young LNP’s Facebook page but was removed when the LNP became aware of it on Monday afternoon.

ā€œThe members involved will be subject to the LNP’s internal disciplinary process,ā€ the party said in a statement, adding the material did not reflect the LNP’s values and beliefs.

Queensland LNP leader Deb Frecklington refused to be drawn on the scandal, sticking closely to her message.

ā€œIt is inappropriate, the party is doing the right thing and taking action,ā€ she told reporters, repeating herself five times.

Mr McGain said ā€œthe powers that beā€ had banned him from commenting about the incident.

ā€œIt has been a whirlwind 24 hours but hopefully I can go back to being a normal 19-year-old. I just have to let it go and move on,ā€ he said.

State Labor’s indigenous Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington must call out racist elements in her party.

ā€œThese kinds of views should not be allowed to simmer within any organisation. It’s disturbing on many levels.ā€

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the LNP ā€œbeing outwardly racistā€ was a major risk for the Gold Coast as an international tourism destination.

ā€œDeb Frecklington needs to show some leadership and hold the young men in this video to account … I’m calling on her to sack Gold Coast Young LNP chair Barclay McGain.ā€

ā€œDeb Frecklington needs to show some leadership and hold the young men in this video to account … I’m calling on her to sack Gold Coast Young LNP chair Barclay McGain.ā€

-AAP

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