Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price slams Pauline Hanson's 'primitive' slur
Pauline Hanson has been rebuked by politicians from across the parliament after her comments calling Indigenous Australians ‘the most primitive race on Earth’.
Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused Pauline Hanson of “wilful ignorance” after the One Nation leader labelled Indigenous Australians “the most primitive race on Earth”.
The prominent Indigenous conservative rebuked Senator Hanson’s comments, saying making Australia better was about working together rather than tearing people down on the basis of race.
“When you say ‘the most primitive race on Earth,’ you are speaking about a race of people,” Senator Nampijinpa Price told Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I don’t care what excuses are being made. She did absolutely demonstrate wilful ignorance because there’s a hell of a lot more to Australia’s first people than simply what her remarks suggest.”
The One Nation leader made the comments during an interview with the Jamie J podcast in 2025, when she criticised the study of Indigenous history and culture in schools.
“Teaching about Aboriginal cultural language. For what? What? What the hell have they done in this country,” Senator Hanson told the podcast.
“Sorry, the most primitive race on earth, and we’re supposed to be holding up and saying what they’ve achieved. They’ve achieved nothing.”
The comments have sparked widespread condemnation from across the parliament, including from all four Indigenous senators.
Pointing to the rare unity, Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said it “speaks volumes” as to why Senator Hanson should apologise.
“Clearly the Senate can act, but I am personally calling out to Senator Hanson saying this is important,” she told ABC TV.
“What (she) said is deeply hurtful. It’s completely wrong.
“Those comments were completely baseless. They harm. They dehumanise First Nations people in Australia.”
The One Nation leader was banned from parliament for seven parliamentary sitting days in November after she wore a burqa in the Senate, leading to her being censured.
Successful censure motions are uncommon and give parliamentarians the chance to formally express their disapproval of colleagues, but they do not have any legal consequences.
