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

Mick Tsikas/AAP Hanson ‘regrets’ hurt caused by remark about ‘primitive’ First Nations people Published: September 15, 2026 1:43am EDT https://theconversation.com/hanson-regrets-hurt-caused-by-remark-about-primitive-first-nations-people-291559 https://theconversation.com/hanson-regrets-hurt-caused-by-remark-about-primitive-first-nations-people-291559 Link copied Share article Share article

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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.”