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NSW premier implied the indigenous Labour MP and deputy opposition leader had not achieved her position on merit
The NSW premier, Barry O'Farrell, has brushed off claims that comments he made about the indigenous politician Linda Burney were racist.
A spokesman for O'Farrell said the government would not be "dignifying that with a response". "It's all a bit ridiculous," he said.
The premier made his remarks after Burney, the deputy opposition leader, accused the community services minister, Pru Goward, in question time of having lost the confidence of her department.
"The minister for community services, the member for the Southern Highlands, has achieved every position in her life on merit. You can't say that," he said.
Burney later said O'Farrell might have been referring to her indigenous background.
"If the premier has an inherent racial element to his questions, I can't prove that," she told reporters.
"All I can say is he's made imputations about my capacity, my reputation, on three occasions."
On previous occasions O'Farrell has joked that Burney could play ''hooker'' in a rugby league team and accused her of ''casting her spells''.
The opposition leader, John Robertson, has accused O'Farrell of making a racial slur and has called on him to make a public apology.
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