FEDERAL MP for Bendigo Steve Gibbons has been caught on social media website twitter comparing anti-carbon tax protesters to the notorious Ku Klux Klan.But Mr Gibbons has defended the tweet, saying one of three anti-carbon tax rallies yesterday had been infiltrated by right-wing groups with a racist agenda.Bendigo man Tony Hooper, a key organiser in Victoria of the No Carbon Tax Protest Group, says he is absolutely disgusted at the comments and will demand an apology.In his tweet on the pro-carbon tax “noCTrally” Twitter feed, Mr Gibbons said: “Looks like all the extremists were having a day out. Was the Ku Klux Klan represented?”.Mr Hooper attended an anti-carbon tax rally in Melbourne yesterday. Others were held in Canberra and Adelaide.Mr Gibbons spoke briefly to the Bendigo Advertiser, saying his post was in response to pictures on the Canberra rally on journalist Latika Bourke’s Twitter account that he said included “racist” placards.The Bendigo Advertiser has viewed the images, which included anti-immigration slogans such as “Illegals stay, Ozzies (sic) pay” and “Stop the boats”.In a statement, Mr Gibbons said: “There were placards opposed to multiculturalism, immigration, asylum seekers and most other issues favoured by the extreme right.“Pauline Hanson attended the rally along with the ultra right-wing Citizens Electoral Council, the National Civic Council and others associated with the almost defunct right-wing group the Australian League of Rights.”“Anyone could be forgiven for asking if the Ku Klux Klan was also represented.”Mr Hooper said Mr Gibbons was so out of touch, it was sad.“This movement is a snapshot of Australia. We are not extremists. We are average Australian people.“At the last election, in 149 out of 150 electorates people voted for the major parties, which promised no carbon tax..”Last April, Mr Gibbons posted a tweet defending bushfires reconstruction chief Christine Nixon which said: “Nixon hasn’t resigned. Now you f...wits in the media must realise that you don’t set or control the agenda.