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Sonia Kruger Says LGBTI Scholarship Should Only Be Awarded On Merit

She says it's like "reverse discrimination".

Channel Nine personality Sonia Kruger has again stoked controversy with comments on the Today show, this time taking aim not at Muslims but at a high school scholarship program for LGBTI students.

The TV presenter slammed the scholarship program as "reverse discrimination" on the Today Extra program on Monday morning, just weeks after Australians were shocked by her opinions about Muslim immigration.

"It sort of feels like reverse discrimination to me, in a way," she said of the scholarship program, which asks students to identify their sexuality.

Sonia Kruger has opinions about an LGBTI scholarship
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Sonia Kruger has opinions about an LGBTI scholarship

"To ask a student if they identify as lesbian, gay or bi-sexual is a really odd thing to do.

"I think a scholarship should be given on merit."

The Australian on Monday reported the Australian Business and Community Network Scholarship Foundation is inviting appli­cations for its 2016 grants program, and is offering a grant targeted at Year 10 students who identify as lesbian, gay, ­bisexual, trans and/or intersex.

The scholarships, which are reportedly valued at $7000 over three years, are open to Year 10 students.

Kruger's co-host David Campbell argued it was "hardly a big deal" to allocate a single scholarship for a LGBTI student.

"There are tonnes of other scholarships that are set aside for kids who are supremely talented," Campbell said.

In mid July Kruger she wanted to see Muslim immigration "stop now for Australia, because I want to feel safe as all of our citizens do when we go out to celebrate Australia Day".

At the time co-host and HuffPost Australia editor-at-large Lisa Wilkinson asked if Kruger was advocating "the Donald Trump approach", referencing the Republican presidential nominee's plan to stop Muslim migration to the United States, to which Kruger replied "perhaps it is".

"I think for the safety of the citizens here, I think it is important," Kruger said.

The Strictly Ballroom actress's more recent opinions have caused a stir.

Geez it must be tough to be Sonia Kruger.

— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) August 1, 2016

I thought we had all agreed that "reverse discrimination" isn't actually a thing. Did no one tell Sonia Kruger?

— Derek Murphy (@ThatsSoDerek) August 1, 2016

Irony of Sonia Kruger criticising scholarships for underprivileged, marginalised high school students when she has worn dresses worth more.

— Nakkiah Lui (@nakkiahlui) August 1, 2016

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