PLEASE EXPLAIN?
WHY TOWNSVILLE’S KIM VUGA IS UPSETTING THE NATION
KIM Vuga is considering a career in politics following the wave of support she has received for her appearance on reality TV show Go Back to Where You Came From.
The Townsville resident and freelance journalist has attracted controversy from around the country for her anti- Muslim views.
In a wide- ranging interview with the Bulletin, Ms Vuga ( pictured) said Australia needed to accept fewer Muslims into the country, branded multiculturalism a failure and called indigenous AFL star Adam Goodes “un- Australian”.
But community leaders say Ms Vuga’s views are not reflective of most Townsville residents.
The “Stop The Boats” campaigner, who this month led the Reclaim Australia Rally in Townsville, said she had been overwhelmed by the support she had received.
“My phone’s going to explode. One gentleman was in hospital and has cancer and he messaged me saying to keep doing what you’re doing,” Ms Vuga said.
“People are very concerned about Australia alia now more so than ever. r. We’ve had failed terrorist ist attacks, Man Monis ( Lindt Cafe) and the climate ate of Australia hasas changed. We … lookk at what’s happening g in Europe with immigration – multiculturalism is destroying g the country.”
Ms Vuga said she hadad also received abusive messages, including being called alled a racist and bogan. “I believe lieve the whole term ‘ racist’ needs eeds to be thrown away. It’s used d too loosely and anyone who has an opposing view is called a racist. I’m after equality,” she said.
Ms Vuga said many Australians were afraid to speak up, and criticised former Australian of the Year Adam Goodes for reacting to a 13- year- old girl calling him an “ape” in 2013.
“Adam Goodes made fame out of abusing a 13year- old girl on a football field,” she said. “He is unAustralian and I don’t know how he got Australian of the Year.”
Ms Vuga, who was born in Bankstown, Sydney, said Muslim immigration should be scaled back, citing concerns about child marriage, female genital mutilation and children preaching radical Islam in schools.
The mental health worker and journalism student, who has lived in Townsville since 2007, said she may consider a political career. “I definitely have a lot to say and ( will) keep all my options open,” she said. “It’s importa important to me about what legacy we leave – this war we’ve got … is everybody’s war. We’re all on the battlefield together, it will be what legacy we leave for our kids.”
Ms Vuga’s more controversial moments on the SBS series included reducing a refugee to tears by asking if he believed she was an infidel, describing being stateless as ‘ bulls-- t’, and dubbing asylum- seeking “organised crime”.
Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville was a tolerant city and doubted such views were reflective of the average resident. “That used to happen to me at school – people used to tell me to go back to where I came from. It’s the same people, just 50 years further on,” she said.
Townsville Multicultural Support Group president Sheila Hawthorn said the city accepts about 150 refugees a year.
“I think the whole issue of Townsville becoming a diverse society has been ongoing for 150 years,” Ms Hawthorn said.
The last episode of Go Back to Where You Came From airs tonight at 8.30pm.