Pauline Hanson has claimed British convicts were ‘also the stolen generation’ in a fiery speech to the Aboriginal Voice to Parliament.
The One Nation leader called The Voice “divisive” and claimed during a speech to the Senate on Monday that the advisory body would not help indigenous communities.
At the start of her speech, Senator Hanson spoke of the arrival of the First Fleet and British convicts being sent to Australia against their will, largely for the commission of petty crimes.
“This country was founded on the government’s Westminster after it was settled by the English,” she said.
“Yes, we all recognize that there were other people (here) in this country at the time, but it was the backbone of, as people say, the settlers, the convicts, the people who came here.
“Many (were) dragged here from England and other places, against their will. They were also the stolen generation.’
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (pictured) delivered a fiery speech criticizing the Voice before parliament on Monday
The “Stolen Generations” is a term used to describe the children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who were taken from their families by colonial era governments as well as state and federal governments until the 1970s.
Senator Hanson continued in her speech that “many atrocities have happened” that have been “acknowledged.”
“Our country has grown with the parliamentary system that started, the same system in England, with parliament, with people elected for their dedication, passion, those people who want to make changes for the better of this country,” she said .
“Those opportunities have been given to everyone, be it people born here, migrants, refugees and even the Indigenous Australian.”
She added, “To say they never had a voice is really untrue. It’s not the truth.’
She claimed that the people “dragged” to Australia during settlement were also the “Stolen Generation” (photo, an illustration of a convict ship that sailed from England to Australia in the early 1800s)
The senator also targeted prominent “Yes” campaigner Thomas Mayo after comments he made in a video published by the Left-wing Search Foundation.
In the 2021 YouTube video – which was unearthed by ‘No’ campaigners and first came to light on Monday – Mr Mayo sees an attempt to debunk misinformation and arguments against the vote.
At one point, Mayo tries to quell criticism that a government advisory body is “weak.”
Mr Mayo said: ‘The power of the vote is that it creates an opportunity for First Nations to come together through representatives they elect, representatives they can hold accountable.
‘And then move on to coherent views on how things should be: what legislation should be passed, what legislation should be amended, what funding is needed and where.
‘And then be able to campaign for it, and punish politicians who disregard our advice. That’s where the power comes from.’
Mr Mayo (pictured) said in a video unearthed from 2021 that politicians should be ‘punished’ if they ignore advice from the advisory body
Mayo said the Voice would also be protected from “hostile governments” because of its “constitutional underpinnings.” An earlier Voice-like organisation, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), was set up by Parliament in 1990, but was wound up by the Howard Government in 2005.
Senator Hanson turned to the Senate after reading his comment about “punishing” politicians who ignored advice.
‘Is this telling your truth? Do you mean this?’ she said.
“So someone caught on video tape says this?”
Mayo was approached for comment.