Federal parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have joined in condemning resurfaced comments by Pauline Hanson as “nasty” and “derogatory”, after she labelled Indigenous Australians the “most primitive race on Earth”. The Indigenous affairs minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa and Garrwa woman, described the One Nation senator’s comments as “totally outrageous” while her opposition counterpart, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, said Hanson’s comments showed “wilful ignorance” and had “dragged the conversation into appalling territory”. Meanwhile, the independent senator Lidia Thorpe urged the Albanese government to focus on real action, including implementing the national anti-racism framework, warning Hanson won’t stop spreading “nasty, poorly informed and harmful ideas”.
The comments place Hanson once more in the centre of attention, and ire from critics, following a string of high-profile slanging matches. In a September 2025 podcast, and first reported by News24, Hanson complained about children learning about Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history. The 72-year-old One Nation leader, who has a history of making controversial statements about Indigenous Australians, said they were the “most primitive race on earth” and had “achieved nothing”.
On Monday, McCarthy shot back at the comments, instructing Hanson to apologise to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander constituents she represents as a senator for Queensland. Dance, songs and stories,” she said. The rest of the country is rich with First Nations culture.” Price, who was the face of the Indigenous voice to parliament’s no campaign, said she was disappointed by the comments, and was sure it would be condemned by all decent Australians.
Thorpe said most Australians knew the comments were “simply false”. But Hanson is only interested in division. 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.” Thorpe said the federal government could include action to address racism in its recently unveiled digital duty of care plan. Hanson responded to criticism on social media: “The media is in a tailspin again today about comments made a year ago on this podcast.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
