Video emerges of Pauline Hanson labelling Aboriginal people ‘the most primitive race on earth’ – after blasting Anthony Albanese’s mum for long public housing stint
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is facing mounting backlash from Indigenous Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who publicly condemned resurfaced comments in which Hanson labelled Indigenous Australians ‘the most primitive race on earth’.
Senator Hanson’s comments remarks were made during an interview on the Jamie J Podcast last year, co-hosted by former Liberal candidate and News24 presenter Jaimee Rodgers.
Recalling a conversation with a teacher from Western Australia, Hanson claimed the education system had shifted away from teaching broader aspects of Australian history.
‘A teacher from Western Australia wrote to me and said, ‘the whole curriculum has changed. We’re not teaching Australian history about civil rights, about what’s happened in the past’,’ Hanson said.
She argued schools were placing too much emphasis on Indigenous studies and questioned the value of teaching Aboriginal culture.
‘We’re actually all leaning towards this … teaching about Aboriginal culture and language. For what?’ she said.
Hanson then launched into a broader criticism of Indigenous Australians, claiming they had contributed little to the nation despite 60,000 years on the continent.
Pauline Hanson (right) said Indigenous Australians were the ‘most primitive race on earth’
‘And I’ll say it on your program, what the hell have they done in this country?’ Hanson said.
‘You know, supposedly 60,000 years, they’d never invented the wheel. There was nothing there.
‘What are we actually holding up? A few, you know, rock paintings. Sorry, they’re most primitive race on Earth.’
The remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Price, a prominent opponent of the Voice to Parliament referendum and conservative activist.
Price said she was ‘disappointed’ by Hanson’s comments in a statement posted to social media.
‘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,’ she said.
‘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.’
Price (pictured) said Hanson showed ‘wilful ignorance’ about Indigenous Australians
Hanson said she was not criticising Indigenous Australians as people.
She said she opposed processes such as treaties between governments and Indigenous Australians, similar to one that exists in Victoria.
‘They are a race of people, they are Australian, by all means,’ Hanson said.
‘But to change and do treaties, that is actually going to destroy who we are as a nation.’
Hanson also criticised Welcome to Country ceremonies and the teaching of Aboriginal languages in schools, arguing they offered little practical benefit to students.
‘I don’t want the Welcome to Country. I don’t want kids being taught Aboriginal language,’ she said.
‘Is it gonna get them jobs? Is it gonna get them jobs around the world? No.’
The comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became emotional on Sunday when it emerged that Hanson had criticised his mother for her long stint living in public housing.
