A Federal MP who posted about "petrol sniffing" has denied his remarks were racist, as the annual debate around Australia Day continues to simmer.
Andrew Laming, who represents the seat of Bowman in Queensland for the LNP, stoked the fire when he posted a link to an article about Cricket Australia's decision to drop all Australia Day references for Big Bash games played on January 26.
Players will instead wear uniforms inspired by Indigenous art and culture.
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"Deny it's Australia Day. That'll help petrol sniffing and school attendance in remote Australia," Mr Laming wrote on his Facebook page.
Aboriginal community spokesperson Jungagi Brady called the comments "vexing" and "reprehensible".
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles also spoke out.
"These racist comments are grubby and disgusting, and below the standards that we should expect of elected officials in our country," he said.
Mr Laming told 9News that he did not believe his comments were racist.
"What this is about is addressing the true gaps that we're trying to close and recognising that maybe debating a public holiday isn't getting us any closer," he said.
The post, and Mr Laming's ministerial account, had both disappeared from Facebook multiple times today.
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Mr Laming said he had switched it off because he "had to go fishing" but was now back and happy to answer any questions.
Queensland Labor has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to censure his LNP colleague, but Mr Morrison is yet to address the issue.
The Indigenous community is standing firm and not letting Mr Laming's comments distract them from the cause.
"That's not going to stop me from marching," Mr Brady said.
"If anything, it's an incentive, it empowers."
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