Sam Newman Defends Pauline Hanson's 'Primitive Race' Comments, Criticizes Indigenous Culture

Former Australian Football League (AFL) star Sam Newman has publicly supported Senator Pauline Hanson's recent remarks, in which she described Indigenous Australians as 'the most primitive race on Earth.' Newman's defense came during an episode of his podcast, 'You Cannot Be Serious,' where he discussed Hanson's comments, which originally appeared on the Jamie J Podcast last year.

Senator Hanson's initial statement, made during an interview, drew criticism after resurfacing. She had claimed that too much emphasis was placed on Indigenous studies in schools and that Indigenous Australians had contributed little to the nation despite their long presence on the continent. While Hanson later offered a qualified apology, stating she would apologize if her use of the term 'primitive' offended people, Newman described her remarks as "extremely fair."

During the podcast conversation with Melbourne Underground Film Festival director Richard Wolstencroft, Newman expanded on his views. "Well, how could you possibly not say that?" he questioned regarding Hanson's assessment of Indigenous people as primitive. He further elaborated, stating that like many white people, Aboriginal people are "basically a lazy and idle race," though he acknowledged the existence of successful individuals within the Aboriginal community and among white populations.

Newman also challenged the tangible contributions of Indigenous Australian culture over 60,000 years, asserting there was "not one tangible thing" to show for it and that they had not structurally contributed to building the nation. This claim overlooks documented achievements, such as the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in Western Australia, recognized by UNESCO for its ancient Indigenous engineering, including channels, weirs, and dams developed over at least 6,600 years for eel harvesting.

Further criticism was directed at Indigenous cultural ceremonies, specifically 'Welcome to Country' events, which Newman dismissed as "showboating" and "gratuitous nonsense." He advised audiences at sporting events not to applaud such ceremonies. Newman also declared his political support for Hanson, stating, "Well, I'm a Hanson supporter."

Hanson's original comments and Newman's subsequent defense have drawn condemnation from various political figures. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a prominent Indigenous senator, criticized Hanson's remarks as demonstrating "wilful ignorance." Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy also rejected the comments, calling them "completely baseless" and harmful.

Newman's remarks follow a period of controversy for Hanson, whose statements have been criticized by Labor, Liberal, and crossbench parliamentarians. She has maintained that her intention was not to cause hurt, acknowledging her limitations as a public speaker.