Aussie minister sparks controversy with ‘illiterate’ refugee remarks

Australia’s immigration minister has sparked angry reactions after warning about the inrush into the country of “illiterate” and “innumerate” refugees.

“For many people, they won’t be numerate or literate in their own language let alone English, and this is a difficulty,” Peter Dutton told Sky News late Tuesday.

He said such refugees would be either hogging local jobs or staying unemployed and on welfare.

“So there would be a huge cost and there’s no sense in sugarcoating that,” he said.