Labor MP Justine Elliot has distanced herself from alleged racist slurs targeting One Nation’s Indigenous candidate for Richmond, Ian Mye, after claims a prominent ALP figure was behind the comments.
A spokesperson for Ms Elliot told Ballina News Daily that she was unaware of any such remarks and stressed:
“Mr Logan has had no involvement in Justine’s 2025 election campaign.”
The statement comes after Mr Mye alleged that he had been the target of racial abuse—specifically being called “Uncle Tom” and “coconut”—terms used to insult Indigenous Australians perceived as aligning with non-Indigenous values.
Subscribe to our newsletter below and never miss the latest news.
Mr Mye claims the comments originated from fellow Bundjalung man Russell Logan, a local Tweed ALP branch president and former party candidate in local government elections.
While Mr Logan denies the slurs were racist, he admitted to using the word “coconut” on social media. Speaking to Ballina News Daily, he dismissed the term as harmless:
“Coconut can mean a lot of things—a knucklehead, a nut. Are you seriously asking someone to apologise for calling someone a nut? It’s not racist at all.”
Asked whether he would apologise, he responded,
“Apologise for what? I’ve been called worse. If you want to run for public office, you need to toughen up.”
Although Mr Logan denied using the term “Uncle Tom,” he said he didn’t find it offensive in the context of politics:
“If he [Mr Mye] were a normal citizen, maybe. But when you put yourself out there as a federal candidate, people will call you all sorts of things—and you just need to wear it.”
Mr Mye, however, believes the language used by Mr Logan has encouraged further racial abuse from others on platforms such as Facebook.
He also called on Ms Elliot to address the issue directly:
“It’d be in her best interest to have a word with him. If she doesn’t, it makes her out to be just like him—and that means she supports racism.”
Ms Elliot declined to comment directly on Mr Logan or distance herself from his remarks.
Mr Mye responded to the abuse by reaffirming his commitment to represent all Australians:
“I’m here for my brothers and sisters, but I’m here for all people—no matter their nationality. We’re all equal, no matter our issues or creed.”
How do you feel: In the “context of politics”, is it acceptable to belittle or demean others? Leave your comment below:
Not acceptable to belittle others. And typical of Labor to employ racist tactics.
I think the Coconut comment was definitely a racist remark
Why who he have needed to make a comment in the first place
He should keep his Racist comments to himself
It would appear that Russell Logan’s attitude of “a little bit of racism is ok, but a lot isn’t”, is used in an attempt to try to justify his racist remarks. For someone to stoop to racist name-calling is just a low human being and un-Australian.
There’s no way anyone would construe coconut as “nut” in that context.
I disagree it was definitely meant in a Racist manner.
Not acceptable Logan knew exactly what he was saying and trying to down play it, in his terms what is normal? What party would want to be affiliated with that type of behaviour- gross