VICTORIAN Trades Hall president Kevin Bracken remains unrepentant after his controversial comments about the 9/11 attacks made news around the world.
Mr Bracken sparked outrage yesterday when he told Jon Faine's ABC talk-back program the attacks were not the result of terrorist activity.
He said the story was a conspiracy that "didn't stand up" to scientific scrutiny.
This morning Mr Bracken phoned into Faine's program again for a right of reply.
He said he wasn't phoning as the president of the Trades Hall council or as secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia.
Mr Bracken stood by his comments and said he had the support of 50 per cent of the community.
He also attacked Faine, claiming he was ridiculed on yesterday's program.
"Unfortunately cowards like yourself have set the political agenda in this country for too long," said Kevin Bracken
"I won't be cowered down to bullies like yourself."
Yesterday, Julia Gillard has dismissed as "stupid and wrong" Mr Bracken's belief.
The Federal Opposition seized on the comments in Parliament, with Victorian MP Josh Frydenberg asking Ms Gillard what action she would take against Mr Bracken “to send a message that such remarks are unacceptable”, The Australian reported.
“Obviously I don’t agree with the remarks, obviously they are stupid and wrong,” Ms Gillard said.
“The Labor Party is a large organisation, people join it as individuals – we don’t dictate what people think.”
After being accused by Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne of not answering the question on discipline, Ms Gillard said: “If it is the intention of the Leader of the Opposition to expel every member who says something stupid, I’ll start sending him a weekly list.”
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