Fraser Anning REFUSES to repay taxpayers after billing them for his trip to St Kilda

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Senator Fraser Anning slammed by prime minister for associating with racism
He attended a far-right rally against African gangs in Melbourne at the weekend
His attendance cost the taxpayer around $2800 and has been heavily criticised
'He is a repeat offender on these issues,' Scott Morrison said on Monday morning
Mr Anning called it 'no racist rally' and said other protesters were 'irrelevant'
He doubled down on his decision to bill taxpayers to attend the right-wing rally

Published: 15:46 EST, 7 January 2019 | Updated: 15:46 EST, 7 January 2019

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Outspoken senator Fraser Anning has doubled down on his decision to bill taxpayers to attend a right-wing extremists rally. The rally was run by the United Patriots Front in Melbourne over the weekend and saw a number of attendees giving the Nazi salute

Outspoken senator Fraser Anning has doubled down on his decision to bill taxpayers to attend a right-wing extremists rally, despite being slammed by the prime minister for again associating with racism.

Both sides of politics have criticised the Independent senator's presence at Saturday's event at St Kilda beach in Melbourne, which was attended by people making Nazi gestures.

Scott Morrison condemned 'repeat offender' Senator Anning for attending the rally and associating with extreme and offensive views.

'Australians are not anti-migrant nor racist,' the prime minister said in a statement on Monday.

'Genuine concerns held by fair minded Australians about immigration levels, border protection or law and order should not be used as a cover or be hijacked to push hateful and ugly racist agendas.'

Senator Anning dismissed Mr Morrison, along with a chorus of critics from across the political divide.

Both sides of politics have criticised the Independent senator's presence at Saturday's event at St Kilda beach

Senator Anning is seen with United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell during Saturday's rally

'They're all left-wingers and unfortunately the PM hasn't understood the Australian people want an alternative,' he told Nine's A Current Affair.

'As far as I'm concerned they're all puppets to the United Nations.'

Senator Anning said the 'neo-Nazi stuff' was at a separate rally about 150 metres from where he was on St Kilda beach despite being seen with convicted criminal Blair Cottrell who has previously expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.

He said Nazi salutes were abhorrent to him, defending the $2852.80 he spent on flights to get to the rally, which he claimed was about 'Sudanese gangs' being out of hand.

Senator Anning said the 'neo-Nazi stuff' was at a separate rally about 150 metres from where he was on St Kilda beach

'There were no Nazi salutes and there was nothing to do with Nazi racist remarks,' he said.

He cited media and some police reports of 'Sudanese gangs' as evidence of a problem, but Queensland Police last month said there was no such issue.

The senator's comments come as reports emerged he also charged taxpayers to attend at least two other far-right events in 2018.

In July, he joined Canadian far-right activist Lauren Southern at a rally in Sydney, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday.

Mounted police officers keep protesters apart on the St Kilda foreshore on Saturday

Independent Senator Fraser Anning during Senate Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, 2017

'I went to a rally of decent Australians who are sick and tired of what's happening in the city,' the senator said.

Senator Anning is adamant he was among ordinary, working Australians at the rally he attended, rather than radicals or skin heads.

Costs for the trip included two nights of accommodation for $810, and flights between Sydney and Brisbane costing nearly $1900, Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority figures show.

The senator also charged taxpayers for another trip to Melbourne in October to speak at an Australian Liberty Alliance's Rally for Free Speech but the costs have not yet been declared.

United Patriot Front founder and leader addresses the crowd at St Kilda beach on Saturday

The Senator also repeatedly denied claims of racist behavior at the event and said those in attendance were 'decent Australian people'

Senator Anning sparked fury among parliamentarians and the public with his maiden speech in August when he called for a ban on Muslim immigration and a plebiscite, saying 'the final solution to the immigration problem of course is a popular vote'.

In St Kilda, he told waiting media that if he were prime minister of Australia, he would refuse entry to any Muslims or people of African descent.

Senator Anning sits as an independent after splitting with both Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Bob Katter's Australian Party since entering parliament in November 2017.