All-round condemnation for Pauline Hanson over Indigenous slur
Australian politician Pauline Hanson is facing widespread condemnation for derogatory remarks about Indigenous Australians, calling them 'primitive' and claiming they 'achieved nothing.' These comments have sparked a broader political backlash, with critics also scrutinizing her past statements.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding race, history, and political discourse in Australia, reflecting deep societal divisions.
Pauline Hanson speaks in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Lukas Coch/AAP All‑round condemnation for Pauline Hanson over Indigenous slur Published: September 14, 2026 4:42am EDT https://theconversation.com/all-round-condemnation-for-pauline-hanson-over-indigenous-slur-291562 https://theconversation.com/all-round-condemnation-for-pauline-hanson-over-indigenous-slur-291562 Link copied Share article Share article
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Government and opposition joined in criticising Pauline Hanson over her comments on a podcast last year declaring that Australia’s original occupants had “achieved nothing”.
Hanson’s derogatory remarks about First Nations people became a fresh issue for her on Monday, hard on the heels of the row over her criticism of Anthony Albanese’s late mother – for living too long in public housing – that surfaced at the weekend. The comments about Maryanne Albanese were made on a podcast done earlier this year. Hanson’s critics are carefully trawling her past comments.
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