Wong denies pro-Govt bias

Pansy Wong

Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong is rejecting Labour allegations that she is using the Office of Ethnic Affairs to promote National policies to the Chinese community.

Labour ethnic affairs spokesman Chris Carter accused the minister of trying to "skew" the select committee process, after would-be participants to an OEA-organised workshop were told they would also be preparing submissions on the law and order legislation amendment bills currently before committees.

"Labour has no problem with people being educated about their democratic rights in the law-making process, but it smells like Pansy Wong is using a politically neutral office to skew the select committee process," he said.

"Why is a particular section of society being targeted to speak out on National Party policies and why is taxpayer money being used to do that?"

Mrs Wong rejected the claims, saying the bills were picked because law and order was the "number one issue" among immigrant Chinese, and something they would be keen to have a say about.

She said the April 2 workshop was aimed at helping break down the myths and understand the workings of Parliament.

"In the past, the Chinese didn't even engage with politicians, now they do. No one can deny that 15,000 Asians marched in Botany for a change to our law and order polices. Do we ignore it? Of course not.

"The workshop will let them know that they can have a say on what final shape the legislation takes."