Wilders has friend in Bernardi COALITION frontbencher Cory Bernardi tested the patience of Tony Abbott by affirming his support for Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who has been forced to cancel a speaking engagement in Perth because no venue was willing to provide him a stage. Senator Bernardi, whom Mr Wilders this week described as an old friend, had distanced himself from the anti-Islam campaigner since late last year, when he was given a visa to visit Australia. But the cancellation of Mr Wilders's Perth tour date prompted Senator Bernadi to lament the "double standard" of free speech in Australia.