Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker has apologised for describing the Queensland premier as the “knee on the throat of Queensland businesses stopping them from breathing”, but denied she meant to reference George Floyd's death.
Senator Stoker made the comments that mirrored the death of Mr Floyd while he was being choked under the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, during an interview with Sky News last Thursday when asked about the impact of Queensland's border closures.
The Opposition seized on the comments during question time on Monday, prompting an apology from the conservative Queensland senator later that day for any "genuine hurt".
“I likened the Queensland Premier's refusal to open the borders to choking the Queensland economy,” she told the Senate.
“I used an unfortunate turn of phrase. It wasn't premeditated, rehearsed or intended to offend.
“For anyone genuinely hurt or offended, please know that was never my intention. I do apologise for any genuine offence or hurt caused.”
Senator Stoker earlier said she didn’t intend her language to invoke the last words of George Floyd when pressed about the matter.
“I didn’t intend it that way … it was just language that was floating around at the time and it’s what came out,” she told reporters.
"They are struggling and they are choking because they are being held back by border closures."
Labor’s Malarndirri McCarthy, who called out the description as “abhorrent and insensitive”, questioned the government about her remarks.
She asked Government Senate leader Mathias Cormann to explain whether it was inappropriate for Senator Stoker to use the words of a dying man on late night TV.
Mr Cormann declined to give an answer saying he would speak with Senator Stoker about the matter following question time.
“I did speak to her and last night she apologised for her comments and that's really, that's the end of the matter,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Liberal Senator James Paterson said it was appropriate Senator Stoker had apologised for her comments.
“It was an unfortunate choice of words – it was not intended to cause offence – it was a spur of the moment observation,” he said on Tuesday.
“It's appropriate that she's apologised and I take her at her word.”
Premier Palaszczuk is facing pressure from the federal government to ease coronavirus border restrictions that are hurting tourism and costing jobs.
The ban is due to lift on 10 July with another ban in South Australia to be removed on 20 July.
