One Nation leader says she regrets any offence caused and also addresses criticism of comments about Prime Minister Albanese’s mother.
Australian far-right politician Pauline Hanson has issued a qualified apology after widespread condemnation of remarks in which she described Indigenous Australians as “the most primitive race on Earth.”
The One Nation leader faced intense criticism from across the political spectrum after comments made on a podcast in September 2025 resurfaced this week. In the interview, Hanson questioned the teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture in schools, saying: “What the hell have they done in this country for, you know, supposedly 60,000 years? They never invented the wheel. There was nothing there… Sorry, they’re the most primitive race on Earth, and we’re supposed to be holding up and saying what they’ve achieved. They’ve achieved nothing.”
Hanson Faces Backlash Over Controversial Remarks:
Speaking to reporters in Canberra on Tuesday, Hanson said: “If I’ve offended people by using that, yes, I will apologise for that.” She added that she regretted any hurt caused and that it was not her intention to upset people. Hanson clarified that she was referring to the period of European settlement rather than the present day, stating: “If we go back at the time of settlement in Australia, they were primitive compared to the settlers that came out here from England. But I’m not talking those terms now.” She insisted she would “not back away from what needs to be discussed.”
The remarks drew sharp rebukes, including from Indigenous Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who accused Hanson of “wilful ignorance” and called for an apology. Opposition figures and government ministers also criticised the language as divisive.
Hanson Defends Remarks on Albanese’s Family:
Hanson also addressed separate controversy over remarks she made about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s late mother, Maryanne, who lived in public housing for decades. Albanese had described the comments as “mean and nasty.”
Hanson said her remarks were not intended as a personal attack: “I don’t think my comments were derogatory towards his mother at all. I was referring to housing commissions at that time. So if he’s taken offence to it, well, I’m sorry for that.”
Albanese has previously defended his upbringing and described his mother as “way out of Pauline Hanson’s league.”
Hanson, whose party has risen in recent opinion polls, has a long history of controversial statements on race, immigration and multiculturalism. Critics argue her latest comments risk further polarising debate on Indigenous affairs and social policy in Australia, while supporters view her as a plain-spoken voice challenging political correctness.
The qualified apologies come amid heightened political scrutiny of One Nation as it seeks to expand its influence. Hanson maintained that her focus remains on addressing what she sees as ongoing problems in Indigenous communities and broader issues of equality based on need rather than race.