Brian Wilshire has ‘gone on holidays’ early, after fallout from racial comments he made about the Cronulla ‘riots’.

Wilshire told his late night talkback listeners Australians shouldn’t have to apologise for the drunken riots of last weekend and then criticised Lebanese Australians for being inbred:

“Many of them have parents who are first cousins whose parents were first cousins. The result of this is inbreeding – the result of which is uneducationable people…and very low IQ.”

NSW Premier Morris Iemma called Wilshire’s comments “uneducated” and “disgraceful.”

Wilshire later apologised on Channel ten, saying: “I understand that those comments may have caused offence to some members of the Lebanese community and I unreservedly retract those comments and I apologise for any offence that might have been caused.”

Lebanese spokesman Keysar Trad earlier accused the media of fueling racial tension: “There’s been a number of presenters from the same radio station who seem to have fuelled racism.”

A Macquarie Radio statement said:

“In consideration of community sensitivities and so as not to further inflame community concerns, Brian has agreed to take leave early… Macquarie radio network appeals for all Australians regardless of religion or ethnic origin, to work together to end violence in our streets.”