Thorpe urges Albanese government to implement anti-racism framework
Federal parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have joined in condemning resurfaced comments by One Nation senator Pauline Hanson as “nasty” and “derogatory,” after she labelled Indigenous Australians the “most primitive race on Earth.”
In a September 2025 podcast, first reported by News24, the 72-year-old One Nation leader complained about children learning about Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history. She said they were the “most primitive race on earth” and had “achieved nothing.”
The Indigenous affairs minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa and Garrwa woman, described the One Nation senator’s comments as “totally outrageous” and instructed Hanson to apologise to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander constituents she represents as a senator for Queensland.
“There is rich history in this country and you only have to travel to places like the Great Barrier Reef, to Cape York, to see incredible cultural significance. Dance, songs and stories,” McCarthy said. “But that’s just one part of Australia. The rest of the country is rich with First Nations culture.”
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, the shadow minister for Indigenous affairs and the face of the Indigenous voice to parliament’s no campaign, said she was disappointed by the comments and was sure they would be condemned by all decent Australians.
“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,” Price said.
“Senator Hanson’s statement asking, ‘What the hell have they done in this country?’ is a demonstration of wilful ignorance on her part and reveals her complete failure to understand Australia’s First Peoples,” she added.
Hanson claimed in the podcast that she had asked Price to join One Nation before the 2025 federal election, saying “she’s a better fit” with her party over the Liberals.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe urged the Albanese government to focus on real action, including implementing the national anti-racism framework, warning that Hanson won’t stop spreading “nasty, poorly informed and harmful ideas.”
Thorpe said most Australians knew the comments were “simply false.” “For thousands of generations, First Peoples have cared for this continent, developed sophisticated systems of lore, knowledge, agriculture, land management, science and art, and maintained rich living cultures that continue today,” she said.
“First Peoples’ ancient knowledge of this continent is something we want to share with everyone, to bring this country together. But Hanson is only interested in division,” Thorpe added. “Before spreading these stereotypes, Hanson should consider the real harm she does to people.”
“I don’t really care about trying to change her mind. 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.
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. Have a look. You be the judge.”