Mr Towke was speaking in an interview with SBS Arabic24 on Friday, in which he outlined his view of events that occurred both in the lead-up to, and following, the pre-selection vote which he said saw him emerge with 84 votes and the now Prime Minister Scott Morrison receiving just eight votes.
The prime minister has emphatically denied allegations he warned that the 'Lebanese background' of his 2007 pre-selection rival, Mr Towke, would reduce the chances of the Liberal Party holding onto the seat of Cook.
Scott Morrison Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright
after the alleged details were aired publicly in a Saturday newspaper on April 2.
Speaking to SBS World News on Sunday, Mr Morrison said he and his government continued to be, "...invested heavily in our multicultural programs, we’ve invested in a cohesive society through an immigration program that has brought skills together with humanitarian entrants at record levels, particularly in the early part of my prime ministership".
Regarding the Lebanese community and claims of racism made by Mr Towke, Mr Morrison reiterated his close and abiding ties with the community.
"After the Christchurch massacres, I was one of the first people there at the mosques in Lakemba, with my arms around my fellow Australians," he said.
This has always been my approach, whether it’s been with the Lebanese community or the Indian community in particular.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks at floral tributes to the victims of the Christchurch terror attack during a visit to the Lakemba Mosque. Source: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
"(In addition) we still provide humanitarian places for 16,500 Afghans and 2000 Burmese migrants for this country just in this year alone which I announced when I was just in Perth the other day," he said.
Mr Towke said he had previously chosen not to speak about the alleged events but was prompted to tell his version after the matter was using parliamentary privilege.
He said he had no idea the senator was going to mention him in her speech.
Liberal Senator for NSW Concetta Fierravanti-Wells mentioned Mr Towke in a recent speech to federal parliament. Source: AAP
“Never, I didn’t talk to Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (prior to her speech). In the last 10 years, I spoke with her twice, and have not been in contact with her since she spoke out recently,” he said.
“We have separate lives, so I didn’t have any contact with her prior to (her speech)."
Mr Towke set the scene for his pre-selection bid for the seet of Cook in Sydney's south 15 years ago.
“I’d been a member (of the Liberal Party) for many years, I had donated a lot of time… (attended) a lot of fundraising events, they used to get us to book a whole table, two tables to help support them with fundraising … everybody was nice to you,” he said.
“I nominated (to be the candidate for Cook) and just to be considered for selection, I saw the true nature of some of these people in the party on his (Mr Morrison's) behalf, including himself (Mr Morrison)."
Mr Towke described the lead-up to the pre-selection ballot as a "painful time" in which he says Liberal Party members were accusing him and his family of "horrible things" such as owning brothels and being involved in agitating Lebanese youths during the Cronulla riots of 2005.
He said he believed senior members of the party couldn't accept that someone outside of their "political class" would have the nerve to challenge Mr Morrison.
A man threatens police at Cronulla Beach during the riots, which Mr Towke claims Liberal members implied he was a part of. Source: AAP
It was said behind closed doors but I have it in writing from them between their solicitors and my solicitors so it’s objective and true.
“I must have been either cheating or dodgy (in their view)," Mr Towke said.
"So they needed a narrative to create a reason why someone like me would get 84 votes and Morrison would only get eight so it wasn’t a pretty time but it got worse after I won the pre-selection because that’s when a lot of the allegations went public."
Mr Towke said the Morrison supporters brought into question not only his academic and business qualifications but also his military record, in which he said he served in the Australian Army Reserves.
“So, they questioned and undermined everything and the strategy was if you throw enough dirt, some of it will stick and that’s what happened and in the end, I dropped out and they forced me to bring my votes behind him (Mr Morrison) and he came from dead last to first," Mr Towke said.
He said he became tired of all of the negative articles about him and the "very toxic environment" generally and had "been cornered".
The seat was always meant for him, that’s why he moved into the area. He didn’t move there because he likes the Sutherland Shire, he moved there because it was a safe (Liberal) seat.
Labelling Mr Morrison as "an opportunist", Mr Towke said his version of events had never changed.
"The only difference now is that I’m speaking publicly and as I mentioned earlier that was not my choosing, that was done by other people," he said.
“What they did to me wasn’t politics. My point is firstly he (Mr Morrison) couldn’t accept losing and secondly they took things to a very very new low, a very dangerous low in Australian politics and that is not acceptable."
SBS Arabic24 has reached out to the prime minister's office for further comment on these claims but Mr Morrison has previously repeatedly and emphatically denied all of Mr Towke's claims after the alleged details were aired publicly in a Saturday newspaper on April 2 and on Channel 10's "The Project".
"I've been very clear. I absolutely reject that as malicious slurs. I fully rejected those issues ... but more importantly, leaders of the Lebanese community have made their own statements and I think puts that matter to rest," Mr Morrison said.
'Don't take democracy for granted' warns Mr Towke
Mr Towke said democracy was a fragile thing that should be protected and that should be the main motivator for anyone entering politics, regardless of the party.
"Democracy is fragile, it’s a social construct, it’s only as good as the people involved in it, that support it and you know we shouldn’t take it for granted," Mr Towke said.
"There are many people around the world dying for a democracy, for freedom, we have it here but we’re taking it for granted, we’re disengaged and I think some of the politicians like it to be like that because it’s less accountability for them…we need to bring back some truth and meaningful dialogue into the political discussion."
'Unacceptable' lack of politicians from diverse backgrounds: Mr Towke
Mr Towke said it was unacceptable that so few state and federal politicians from both major parties hailed from culturally diverse backgrounds.
“How many ethnic minorities do we have in safe seats? There’s absolutely a big problem, they use us for fundraising, they use us to join their branches and support their candidates, they use us to go and volunteer on polling day and hand out how to votes, to set up the polling booth, they use us for their functions to promote them," he said.
Is this where we set the bar now for ourselves in a Lebanese society in Australia…Just because a politician is nice to us in front of the camera or even behind closed doors, that makes him a good person and he’s one of our supporters?
"Is that how desperate we are for their affection and their love? That they can throw us a little bone and like little dogs under a table we can just be happy and sit there?
"Sorry that’s not good enough for me and that’s not good enough for a lot of the Middle Eastern people that I’ve spoken to.
“We love to be associated with powerful people because it’s prestigious and sometimes we love to turn a blind eye to their faults just so we can still rub shoulders with them and have bragging rights within our community and that applies more to our religious leaders, imams and bishops who know these politicians for their true colours and yet are still happy to associate with them in public because it’s in their interests.”
Mr Towke said he had well and truly moved on and had no interest in ever entering politics.
"Basically, I don’t really need to be in politics, I have options in life, and I’ve built a very good career outside of politics. I want to be at home with my young family more than I want to be involved in politics,” he said.
Advice for budding politicians: 'Have a life before politics'
Asked whether he would encourage young people of Arabic and Lebanese backgrounds to go into politics, he said: “I would encourage them to get a good education and have a life before politics, become a doctor, an engineer a lawyer, a nurse, get a trade, something to fall back on so you’re not in something you can never get out of."
There is inherent racism in (Australian) politics and it's been there for a very long time.
“...and there’s also a class system and you’re either in the club or you’re not in the club and … unless you’re from a multi-multi-millionaire family, you’re not going to be in the club and you’re not going to fit in that club and you may not be welcomed with open arms."
