Minister Tony Burke slams Pauline Hanson over ‘perverted’ White Australia remarks
Australia’s home affairs minister has lashed out at comments made by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in a podcast with a British far-right commentator.
Appearing on a broadcast alongside the controversial Tommy Robinson, Senator Hanson linked immigration problems to the repeal of the White Australia policy 50 years ago.
The measure, introduced after 1901, restricted the immigration of non-Europeans to the country and was abolished in 1973.
Mr Burke took aim at Senator Hanson’s comments at a press conference on Saturday morning to explain the Government’s response to a report on Islamophobia.
“When I entered parliament I never thought in my political life that anyone elected would call for a White Australia,” he said.
“I thought we were in a country where everyone accepted that we had moved on and that we were better for moving on.
“Part of saying you love Australia is loving Australia for who we are, not some perverted notion of a country where we will turn on each other, where Australians will fundamentally lose their capacity for civility towards each other.”
And he added: “You will never find an orchestra where every instrument is the same.”
During the podcast with Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, he asked Senator Hanson about Australia’s immigration issues.
“How did you come across Pakistanis, Somalis, all these African problems, violent Africans? I’ve seen some crazy videos coming out of Australia,” he said.
Senator Hanson replied: “They opened up and eliminated the White Australia policy, then they started bringing in different immigrants.”
“After World War II, a lot of people showed up. Italians, Germans, Poles and these people, but they integrated into the system,” he said.
“A lot of them couldn’t speak English, but they learned to speak English. They had to study. It’s these people who came and really assimilated.”
Senator Hanson also suggested that immigrants came to the country “purely for the welfare system” and that Australian Muslims were having children because they were taught “God will provide”.
“Well, God who provides sustenance is the taxpayer,” he added
Anthony Albanese told the same press conference that Islamophobia was on the rise and that it had “no place in Australia”.
“Hate directed at one community hurts us all,” the Prime Minister said.
“Diversity is one of Australia’s greatest strengths and as a nation we will not allow hate to divide us.
“Every Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for their contribution to our great nation.”
The government’s response comes to a report by Islamophobia special envoy Aftab Malik outlining the challenges Australian Muslims face against the backdrop of increasing Islamophobia.
“This has been a long wait for Muslim Australians who continue to experience Islamophobia in their daily lives,” he said.
“This is just the beginning of the journey. To get to the roots of Islamophobia, we must address the tough questions.”
