The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has demanded Prime Minister Rudd publicly apologise for a disgraceful statement made by the Member for Moreton likening Nationals Senate Leader and Shadow Finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce to convicted murderer Ivan Milat.

Senator Williams said Graham Perrett should be publicly

censured for his comments that “Barnaby Joyce is doing to economic responsibility what (serial killer) Ivan Milat did to backpacker holidays."

“This is outside politics. This is a denigrating attack that reflects on Senator Joyce as a person who is a devoted husband and father of four children.

If the Prime Minister does not publicly apologise in the House today, and censure the Member for Moreton, he will be seen as complicit in this shameful episode”, Senator Williams said.

ENDS