Price Condemns Hanson’s Indigenous Comments
Price Condemns Hanson’s Indigenous Comments
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Key Points
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Price said that although some issues Hanson raised involve serious policy debates, Hanson had again pushed the discussion into “appalling territory,” and that Australians would be shocked such remarks came from a political party leader.
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Hanson’s comments resurfaced after News24, formerly Sky News Australia, reported excerpts from her September 2025 appearance on the little-known JJ Podcast.
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Hanson questioned what Indigenous Australians had supposedly achieved over 60,000 years and invoked the absence of inventions such as the wheel while discussing Indigenous culture and language education.
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Human-rights expert and academic Hannah McGlade said former Liberal senator Ross Lightfoot had been found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act in 2002 over “very similar comments,” raising a potential legal precedent in the Hanson controversy.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price condemned One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for calling Indigenous Australians "the most primitive race on earth," saying the remarks were wilfully ignorant and beyond legitimate debate. The Australian reported that Hanson made the comments during a September 2025 podcast appearance, which recently resurfaced online. Price said Australians would be shocked such language came from a political party leader.
Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe and Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy also denounced the comments as dehumanising and divisive. SBS News reported that Hanson later offered a qualified apology, though critics said it fell far short of genuine remorse for the offensive remarks.
Hanson Questions Indigenous Achievements Over 60,000 Years
In her podcast appearance, Hanson questioned what Indigenous Australians had supposedly accomplished over 60,000 years. Head Topics reported that she invoked the absence of inventions like the wheel while discussing whether Indigenous culture and language should be taught in schools. Her comments suggested Indigenous achievements were minimal compared to other civilisations.
Price Says Hanson Pushed Debate Into Appalling Territory
Price acknowledged that some policy questions Hanson raised involve serious debate. But she said Hanson had once again pushed the discussion into "appalling territory" with language unfit for mainstream political discourse. Price stressed that while Australians engage in genuine disagreements about Indigenous policy, Hanson's framing crossed a clear line into dehumanising language.
Legal Precedent From 2002 Racial Discrimination Case
Human-rights expert Hannah McGlade raised concerns about potential legal exposure. According to Head Topics, McGlade noted that former Liberal senator Ross Lightfoot was found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act in 2002 over "very similar comments." The precedent suggests Hanson's remarks could face legal scrutiny under discrimination law.
Hanson's Apology Viewed as Inadequate by Critics
SBS News reported that Hanson offered what was described as a "qualified apology" following the backlash. Geelong Advertiser characterised the apology as "pathetic," saying it fell flat as critics remained unconvinced of genuine remorse. The weak response added to growing pressure on Hanson, who simultaneously faced attacks for critical comments about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's mother and Liberal MP Andrew Hastie.
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