Hanson ‘regrets’ hurt caused by remark about ‘primitive’ First Nations people

Pauline Hanson has expressed “regret” for describing Australia’s Indigenous people as “the most primitive race on earth”, saying it “wasn’t my intention to hurt people”. Speaking after a barrage of criticism from across the political spectrum at her remarks, made on a podcast last year, she also said she was referring to First Nations people at the time of settlement, not at present. “If we go back at the time of settlement in Australia, they were primitive compared to the settlers that came out here from England”, she said on News24. “But I’m not talking those terms now.” Questioned about the backlash against her, including from Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Hanson said: “I’ve always put my foot in my mouth in the way I come out and say things. I’m not the most eloquent speaker in how I deliver something, what I say.” She said she had always called for equality for all Australians and for people not to be treated differently because of their race. “I’ve always called out for accountability. I’ve called out the third world living conditions. I’ve called out the rape that is going on in these communities, and no one has done a damn thing about it. "I’ve travelled to these communities. A lot of Aboriginal people support me because they feel they have been used as pawns in this, and it needs to be addressed.” She continued to criticise teaching Aboriginal children Indigenous languages that “no longer is going to give them a job or give them any future”. Hanson defended her criticism of the prime minister’s late mother for living in public housing for decades, which have also come under attack. On this she also offered an apology. “I raised a comment with regards to housing commissions. My comments were not in distaste towards Anthony Albanese’s mother. "I was referring to housing commissions at the time, so if he’s taken offence to it, well I’m sorry for that,” she said. At the Coalition parties meeting, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the opposition had to hold One Nation members to account when they misstepped. He praised Garth Hamilton, Andrew Hastie and Price for doing so. He said the test “will always be decency”, and One Nation’s comments did not meet the basic test on decency. Hanson willing to have PBO cost migration policy Hanson said she was willing to have her controversial immigration policy, released this week, costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office. The policy, which would have negative net overseas migration over three years and cut temporary visa holders by 175,000 over this period, has been widely criticised for having no costings and for its potential to crash the economy. Hanson said she did not believe it would bring a recession. She didn’t trust economists’ critiques. The plan was taking migration back to 2017 settings. “Did the economy crash at that time? No.” “We had better standards of living for people,” she said. “We’re technically in a recession now anyway, so if it’s going to hit the bottom line for a couple of months, but I think then it will improve. People’s quality of life will improve.” “I’m sick of listening to the bureaucrats. I’m sick of listening to the politicians who never get it right. I’m sick of listening to the big business who just want cheap labour into the country. "The real things that we need to do is to actually train more Australians, getting them to TAFE colleges, apprenticeships schemes.” Pressed on whether she would submit the immigration policy to the PBO, Hanson said she would have no problem with doing so, although she sounded sceptical about the worth of it. “The thing is listening to the people out there. […] I’m implementing the will of the people and the people are behind One Nation because they trust us on immigration. Complaints about Albanese refusing One Nation more staff Hanson said she had had two meetings with Special Minister of State Don Farrell about trying to get more staff for One Nation. Staffing for politicians is in the hands of the prime minister, but he has allocated staff in an arbitrary manner. One Nation’s allocation is disproportionately low.