Hanson’s outburst outrages senators

PAULINE Hanson has blamed shocking outcomes for indigenous Australians on Aboriginal people not taking responsibility for themselves.

Labor and Greens senators slammed her for racism after the One Nation leader branded Closing the Gap “complete rubbish” and a “joke”.

“The biggest problem facing Australian and Aboriginal Australians today is their own lack of commitment and responsibility to helping themselves,” Senator Hanson told parliament last night.

She attacked indigenous mums and dads for being behind poor school attendances.

“Whose fault is that? Lazy parents. You can’t blame the whites when it’s your own negligence,” Senator Hanson said.

Labor frontbencher Jenny McAllister said Senator Hanson’s speech was not OK. “Her racist comments — and they are racist — have no place in this chamber,” she said.

The outburst came after indigenous groups urged the Federal Government to act swiftly after it hailed the beginning of a “new era” of improving health and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison released the latest Closing the Gap report yesterday, declaring things were “better than they were … but we have not made as much progress as we should have by now”.

He said the change of tack in the government’s approach would involve a partnership with indigenous people.