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'Ask them to leave': Aussie minister issues 'racist' statement about Irish people

'Ask them to leave': Aussie minister issues 'racist' statement about Irish people

An Australian minister has become embroiled in controversy following a comment made about people with Irish accents.

Consumer Affairs Minister, Marlene Kairouz, advised Australian homeowners to “automatically ask anyone with an Irish accent” to leave when commenting at the launch of a conmen awareness campaign on October 29.

Her comments can be viewed below.

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A warning to householders about a pest that thrives as we approach summer; travelling conmen.

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Posted by 9 News Melbourne on Monday, October 30, 2017

The comments, which have angered Irish expats down under, have been labelled as "blatantly racist."

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Minister Kairouz has since issued an apology via a series of tweets:

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Australia is home to around 70,000 Irish-born people, while some two million claim Irish heritage.

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