YouTube star Jordan Shanks has returned serve to John Barilaro hours after the Deputy Premier said 'vile racism' had contributed to his decision to quit politics.
Mr Barilaro said defamation proceedings he launched against the YouTuber, also known as FriendlyJordies, and Google played an enormous role in his decision to step down just days after Premier Gladys Berejiklian handed in her resignation.
He accused Shanks of spouting 'vile racism' hidden as journalism, noting the 'disgusting, vile, racist commentary on social media has taken a toll'.
Shanks quickly prepared a statement which claimed the press conference 'defamed me as a racist'.
'That in itself is a vile and offensive accusation about me that anyone following these issues can see straight through,' Shanks said.
'He dodged, weaved and bristled when asked about the substantive and serious allegations that our videos have exposed.'
The duo will go head-to-head in the Federal Court in a judge-only trial where Shanks has already indicated he will rely on a truth defence.
'After a decade of proudly advancing his interests and blaming other people for his mistakes, what a fitting way to go out,' Shanks said in the fiery statement.
'He may be able to dodge questions in a press conference but I doubt he’ll be able to in a courtroom.'
Mr Barilaro will be represented by leading defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC and the matter is expected to return to court this month.
He said on Monday he hopes the matter will be resolved outside of the public eye and was outraged when asked who funded the legal challenge.
'I'm funding it,' he said. 'I am paying the bill.'
'As a young boy with immigrant parents, I understood what racism was from a young age.'
In one YouTube video, the entertainer referred to Mr Barilaro as a 'big, fat, wog c**t', 'greasy Ned Kelly' and 'a conman to the core, powered by spaghetti'.
Mr Barilaro acknowledged the 'defamation case is playing a big role in this' and said he felt for all the young boys and girls who endure social media bullying.
'As a 49-year-old man, it has taken a toll on me... It was started by disgusting, vile and racist commentary disguised as journalism... And that's why I'm calling out Google, they've allowed this to happen.'
The father-of-three is proud of his Italian heritage and the sacrifices his parents made for him growing up, citing his late father as his 'biggest inspiration' for getting into politics.
Mr Barilaro's father, Domenico, died in 2020 after a long-fought battle with diabetes.
The father-of-three is proud of his heritage and the sacrifices his parents made for him growing up, citing his late father as his 'biggest inspiration' for getting into politics
'Though he was a strong man the end was grim, with his part of his leg amputated, we watched him die in excruciating pain,' Mr Barilaro said when justifying his support for an assisted dying bill.
'I've said in my inaugural speech to Parliament that dad was my hero and
