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Deepa Mathew slams Australian Premier’s migrant remark
She urged political leaders to adopt a ‘fair, orderly and sustainable’ immigration policy aligned with broader challenges.
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Mon, 23, Feb 2026
- 03:58 EST
- 25
Family First’s South Australian upper house candidate Deepa Mathew / Linkedin/@Deepa Mathew
Family First’s South Australian upper house candidate Deepa Mathew has condemned South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas for his reported demeaning statements about migrants that she believes ‘reduce’ their contributions and hurt community sentiments ahead of the state election.
During a committee for Economic Development of Australia forum in Adelaide last week, Malinauskas was asked to address voter concerns on immigration.
To which the Premier reportedly told supporters of the conservative One Nation party that robust immigration levels are vital to filling essential jobs as Australia’s population ages.
Premier’s alleged remarks were deemed offensive and considered as reducing immigrants to demeaning stereotypes by the Indian‑born political candidate, who hit back at Malinauskas, mentioning the wide-range and significant contributions immigrants make, rather than just being low‑skilled caregivers
According to News of Australia, Mathew said,
“I came to South Australia with my husband and young family seeking opportunity, freedom and a better future. Like thousands of other migrants, I have worked hard, contributed to the economy, paid taxes, created jobs and volunteered in my community."
“My family and I have embraced the Australian way of life. We have assimilated," she added.
“I didn’t come here to wipe bums. I came here to be Australian.”
— Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) February 20, 2026
Family First South Australia Legislative Council lead candidate Deepa Mathew has condemned Premier Peter Malinauskas for what she says are deeply offensive remarks suggesting migrants are needed to “wipe your bum… pic.twitter.com/NvlXP0gNeE
Mathew emigrated from India to Adelaide around 20 years ago with her husband and infant child and later built a career in banking before finding her own business.
She urged political leaders to adopt a ‘fair, orderly and sustainable’ immigration policy aligned with broader challenges such as housing affordability, infrastructure, and cost‑of‑living pressures, rather than relying on a rhetoric that could alienate migrant communities.
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