The Queensland Opposition is defending an election campaign leaflet sent to constituents that claims minority groups are undermining Australian values.
The leaflet was distributed in the South Brisbane seat of Chatsworth by the LNP's Steve Minnikin and claims minority groups want to "attack" traditional values.
An LNP spokesperson said the leaflet is referring to radical activist groups, which they said are telling people what to think about same-sex marriage and immigration.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has also defended the message, arguing it does not refer to ethnic groups.
"We're sick of these minority groups telling us how to think, putting I suppose our traditional values that we hold under question," Mr Nicholls said.
"I think we're all pretty sick and tired with the nanny state, which is fostered by the Labor Party.
"When most people would say there are more important things to deal with, but we know they find a home in certain sections of the Labor Party."
Queensland's election campaign, which concludes later this month, has seen both major parties defending themselves against accusations of xenophobia.
Ali Kadri, spokesperson for the Islamic Council of Queensland, said the leaflet represented false scaremongering material.
"I just hope this is an oversight. I just hope someone from the party has typed this up without getting approval," Mr Kadri said.
"In a multicultural diverse nation a member of parliament is supposed to represent all groups, and the rights of minorities is an important cornerstone of democracy.
"I have spoken to a couple of Chinese people and Indian people … they all feel this is trying to take advantage of divisions which are going on."
Letter is a dog whistle, says Labor MP
Queensland Multicultural Affairs Minister Grace Grace said she did not buy the LNP's explanation.
"For a shadow multicultural affairs minister to be stoking fear and division is totally unacceptable, and I would like to know what he means by what he wrote," Ms Grace said.
"If it is an attack on our multicultural community here in Queensland and in Brisbane, I think that is a disgrace.
"That letter can have a number of different meanings, and I think it's written purposefully in that way."
But Labor has also come under fire with accusations of xenophobia from Queensland's Indian community.
The India Australia Exchange Forum said the Labor Party has used anti-Indian advertisements in its campaigning.
"You look at recent rail derailment in Brisbane, and straight away the Premier was very quick to blame the Indian manufacturers," the forum's Ben Apsey said.
"And yet [the Premier] was very quick to blame the nation and those building the trains for the issue, when it was actually [Queensland Rail] which caused the problem."
Mr Aspey said there have been Labor advertisements warning voters that the LNP will send jobs in this industry to India.
"The community is concerned that this is playing out that we, as Indians, are stealing Australian jobs when in fact the Australians didn't tender for the jobs in the first place," he said.
