One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has criticized Muslim migrants and COVID-19 vaccines in a podcast interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The conversation, published Friday, touched on Hanson's past stances, including her protests against pandemic-era vaccine mandates and her controversial 2016 stunt wearing a burqa in the Australian Parliament.
During the nearly hour-long discussion, Senator Hanson accused individuals from "Muslim areas" of exploiting Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). She claimed that a significant number of NDIS participants come from these areas and are "ripping the system off," while also acknowledging that many other Australians utilize the program.
Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler responded to Hanson's claims, stating he had never seen a breakdown of NDIS participants by nationality or religious background and questioned the source of her figures. Butler also suggested Hanson should explain her travel to Europe while Australians face cost-of-living pressures.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called Hanson's comments and her meeting with Robinson "appalling," labeling Hanson the "most un-Australian politician in parliament."
Senator Hanson linked current migration issues to the abolition of Australia's White Australia Policy, suggesting that the post-war migration wave differed from today's situation because earlier migrants learned to speak English. She expressed a belief that vaccines should undergo extensive testing before widespread rollout.
Hanson also discussed the potential for her daughter, Lee Hanson, to lead One Nation, noting her daughter's potential but emphasizing the need to earn party and public trust.
