Pauline Hanson has been condemned after remarks she made on the JJ Podcast a year ago, in which she labelled Indigenous Australians “the most primitive race on Earth” and dismissed the value of teaching Indigenous history in schools, resurfaced and drew fierce criticism.
During the interview, the One Nation leader attacked the study of Indigenous culture and history, saying, “Teaching about Aboriginal cultural language. For what? What? What the hell have they done in this country?” She continued, “What are we actually holding up? A few, you know, paintings.
“Sorry, the most primitive race on Earth, and we’re supposed to be holding up and saying what they’ve achieved. They’ve achieved nothing.”
The JJ Podcast describes itself as “a no-nonsense look at what’s really going on in Australia … unpacking politics, media and culture through real conversation with people shaping the country”.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said Hanson had “no respect whatsoever” and denounced the comments at Parliament House on Monday.
“It’s totally outrageous, completely racist, but it also divides our country in a way that we do not want to see happen right here in Australia,” she said.
“I do believe that, as all Australians, we have to stand up and stand out against such divisive commentary … that is not the Australia I know.
“It is not the Australia I want to see and I call on all Australians to condemn such commentary.”
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe said Hanson should think about the “real harm” such statements could inflict.
“We know she won’t change. She will continue to spread nasty, poorly informed and harmful ideas to rally her base and divide this country,” she said.
Thorpe also urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “step up” and confront racism.
“Pauline Hanson is running circles around them (Labor), spreading damaging and divisive ideas while this government sits on its hands,” she said.
Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said she was disappointed by Hanson’s remarks. She said the matters being discussed were “serious debates”, but said Hanson had taken them into “appalling territory”.
“All decent Australians, I’m sure, would condemn such comments and would rightfully be shocked that they came from the leader of a political party,” Nampijinpa Price says.
“Some of the issues raised by Pauline Hanson are serious debates, many of which I have been very vocal about, but yet again, Senator Hanson has dragged the conversation into appalling territory.
“It is a demonstration of wilful ignorance on her part and reveals her complete failure to understand Australia’s First Peoples.”
Labor cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek said Hanson appeared willing to “kick down” at almost anyone, and challenged the basis for her attack on Indigenous culture.
“If you don’t take the time to learn about a culture, you’ve got no right to to call it primitive,” Plibersek told News24.
The backlash marks the third major controversy to hit Hanson in the past week. She has already refused to apologise over a social media video in which she labelled Liberal MP and former special forces soldier Andrew Hastie a “traitor”, and over criticism of Anthony Albanese’s mother for living in public housing for several decades.
