Pauline Hanson’s comments about Indigenous Australians condemned as ‘nasty’ and ‘derogatory’  | Pauline Hanson | The Guardian  (pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory.html)   (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/manifest.json)  (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon.svg) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-512.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-360.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-240.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-120.png) (../../../../../static.guim.co.uk/images/favicon-32x32.ico) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://sourcepoint.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk) (https://hits-secure.theguardian.com) (https://interactive.guim.co.uk) (https://static.theguardian.com) (https://support.theguardian.com) (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-textegyptian/noalts-not-hinted/GuardianTextEgyptian-Regular.woff2)                                 (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/css/print.css)  (pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory.html#maincontent) Skip to main content (pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory.html#navigation) Skip to navigation (Close [ESC or Q])   Close dialogue  1 / 1   (Next image [→])   Next image  (Previous image [←])   Previous image  (Toggle caption [i])   Toggle caption                         (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions   (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters   (https://profile.theguardian.com/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header)   Sign in        US  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/us) US edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/uk) UK edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/au) Australia edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/eur) Europe edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/int) International edition      (https://www.theguardian.com/) The Guardian - Back to home             The Guardian    (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Show more    Hide expanded menu       News (https://www.theguardian.com/) View all News  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) US politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) Midterms 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World news  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) Ukraine  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration) US immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness      Opinion (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) View all Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/editorial) The Guardian view  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/columnists) Columnists  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters) Letters  (https://www.theguardian.com/type/video+tone/comment) Opinion videos  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/cartoons) Cartoons      Sport (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) View all Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nfl) NFL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/tennis) Tennis  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/mlb) MLB  (https://www.theguardian.com/football/mls) MLS  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nba) NBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/wnba) WNBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nhl) NHL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone) F1  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/golf) Golf      Culture (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) View all Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/film) Film  (https://www.theguardian.com/books) Books  (https://www.theguardian.com/music) Music  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign) Art & design  (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio) TV & radio  (https://www.theguardian.com/stage) Stage  (https://www.theguardian.com/music/classicalmusicandopera) Classical  (https://www.theguardian.com/games) Games  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/series/design-a-better-world) Design a better world      Lifestyle (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) View all Lifestyle  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness  (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion) Fashion  (https://www.theguardian.com/food) Food  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/recipes) Recipes  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/love-and-sex) Love & sex  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/home-and-garden) Home & garden  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/health-and-wellbeing) Health & fitness  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/family) Family  (https://www.theguardian.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.theguardian.com/money) Money    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)      (https://support.theguardian.com?INTCMP=side_menu_support&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22,%22componentId%22:%22side_menu_support%22%7D) Support us  (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://app.adjust.com/1hskf6nd?adgroup=USHeader) Download the app   (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us  (https://app.adjust.com/16xt6hai) The Guardian app  (https://www.theguardian.com/video) Video  (https://www.theguardian.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/inpictures) Pictures  (https://www.theguardian.com/insidetheguardian) Inside the Guardian  (https://www.theguardian.com/weekly?INTCMP=gdnwb_mawns_editorial_gweekly_GW_TopNav_US) Guardian Weekly  (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords) Crosswords  (https://www.wordiply.com) Wordiply  (https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/series/corrections-and-clarifications) Corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tips    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)   (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us         (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) AU politics   (https://www.theguardian.com/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-immigration-and-asylum) Immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/media) Media  (https://www.theguardian.com/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/health) Health  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/au/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters                      (Senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Malarndirri McCarthy have both strongly condemned Pauline Hanson’s comments.)          Senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Malarndirri McCarthy have both strongly condemned Pauline Hanson’s comments. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP     (pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       Senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Malarndirri McCarthy have both strongly condemned Pauline Hanson’s comments. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP       (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/pauline-hanson) Pauline Hanson     Pauline Hanson’s comments about Indigenous Australians condemned as ‘nasty’ and ‘derogatory’    Indigenous senators have criticised One Nation leader saying the comments showed ‘wilful ignorance’ (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/14/australia-politics-live-question-time-electric-vehicles-auction-rates-housing-crisis-albanese-labor-coalition-one-nation-ntwnfb) Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates   Get our (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl) new political email , (https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3) free app or (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl) daily news podcast            (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/sarah-basford-canales) Sarah Basford Canales   Mon 14 Sep 2026 02.38 EDT  Last modified on Mon 14 Sep 2026 03.19 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Pauline Hanson’s comments about Indigenous Australians condemned as ‘nasty’ and ‘derogatory’ &body=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/14/pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory?CMP=share_btn_url) Share          (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) Prefer the Guardian on Google          Federal parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have joined in condemning resurfaced comments by Pauline Hanson as “nasty” and “derogatory”, after she labelled (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) 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, (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/jacinta-nampijinpa-price) Jacinta Nampijinpa Price , said Hanson’s comments showed “wilful ignorance” and had “dragged the conversation into appalling territory”.  Meanwhile, the independent senator (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/lidia-thorpe) 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 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/13/andrew-hastie-vows-to-go-all-the-way-in-fight-against-pauline-hanson-as-joyce-denies-buyers-remorse-claim-ntwnfb) a string of high-profile (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/12/andrew-hastie-knew-attacking-pauline-hanson-would-cost-him-liberals-are-divided-over-the-price-of-following-suit-ntwnfb) slanging matches . (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/12/andrew-hastie-knew-attacking-pauline-hanson-would-cost-him-liberals-are-divided-over-the-price-of-following-suit-ntwnfb)  Andrew Hastie knew taking on Pauline Hanson would cost him. Liberals are divided over the price of following suit     Read more        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. “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,” she said. “But that’s just one part of Australia. The rest of the country is rich with First Nations culture.” (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed&CMP=emailbutton) Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email   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. “Some of the issues raised by (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/pauline-hanson) 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,” she 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.” 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. (pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory.html#EmailSignup-skip-link-15) skip past newsletter promotion     Free newsletter | When needed    Sign up to Breaking News Australia  Get the most important news as it breaks  ()   Enter your email  ()   Sign up      after newsletter promotion   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. “Before spreading these stereotypes, Hanson should consider the real harm she does to people. “But 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 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.”         Explore more on these topics (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/pauline-hanson) Pauline Hanson  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) Australian politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/lidia-thorpe) Lidia Thorpe  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/jacinta-nampijinpa-price) Jacinta Nampijinpa Price  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australians  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/news) news    (mailto:?subject=Pauline Hanson’s comments about Indigenous Australians condemned as ‘nasty’ and ‘derogatory’ &body=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/14/pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory?CMP=share_btn_url) Share     (https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Faustralia-news%2F2026%2Fsep%2F14%2Fpauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory&type=article&internalpagecode=australia-news/2026/sep/14/pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory) (Reuse this content) Reuse this content                            Most viewed      Most viewed                                                               (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) AU politics   (https://www.theguardian.com/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-immigration-and-asylum) Immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/media) Media  (https://www.theguardian.com/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/health) Health  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/au/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters       (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning (https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed) Sign up for our email     (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us) About us  (https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) Help  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) Complaints & corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact) Contact us  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tip us off  (https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) SecureDrop  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) Privacy policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) Cookie policy  (https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2026/07/22/STL_Global_Tax_Strategy_for_the_year_to_31_March_2027.pdf) Tax strategy  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) Terms & conditions   (https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) All topics  (https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) All writers  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_US) Newsletters  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital newspaper archive  (https://bsky.app/profile/us.theguardian.com) Bluesky  (https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) Facebook  (https://www.instagram.com/guardian) Instagram  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) LinkedIn  (https://www.threads.com/@guardian_us) Threads  (https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) TikTok  (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) YouTube   (https://usadvertising.theguardian.com) Advertise with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-labs-us) Guardian Labs  (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Work with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) Accessibility settings         (pauline-hansons-comments-about-indigenous-australians-condemned-as-nasty-and-derogatory.html#top) Back to top      © 2026Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.(dcr)