Hanson under fire over disabled kids comments

ONE Nation senator Pauline Hanson stunned many when she said children with autism were holding Australia back, now one MP has shut her down.

A LABOR MP who has an autistic child has ripped into Pauline Hanson over her suggestion that children with autism spectrum disorder be removed from mainstream classrooms.

Reaching out to children with autism in a speech outside Parliament, Emma Husar sent a message that kids with disabilities are “better than (Ms Hanson)”.

The Western Sydney MP’s 10-year-old son has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“She owes an apology to every single autistic child in this country, every on of the parents who are like me because we’ve got better things to do than defend our kids,” Ms Husar said.

“I’ve got one thing to say to every single child on the autism spectrum who is going into a classroom today ... that you can be included and you ought to be included.

“And even on the days that are hard, and you are frustrated, and your disability makes you angry, you are still better than she is on her best day.”

The One Nation leader came under fire when she made the comments during debate on the federal government’s proposed schools overhaul in the Senate on Wednesday, insisting that parents and teachers had raised the matter with her.

Teachers were devoting much of their time to disabled children, to the detriment of other students in the classroom, she said.

A furious Emma Husar has slammed Pauline Hanson over her comments about autistic children in classrooms.

Disabled and autistic children should be taught in special classrooms where they can be looked after and given special attention, she said.

“If it was one of my children I would love all the time given to them to give them those opportunities — but is it at the loss of our other kids?” Senator Hanson said.

“It’s no good saying ‘We’ve got to allow these kids to feel good about themselves and we don’t want to upset them and make them feel hurt’, and I understand that.

“But we have to be realistic at times and consider the impact that is having on other children in that classroom.

“We can’t afford to hold our kids back: we have the rest of the world and other kids in other countries who are going ahead [in] leaps and bounds ahead of us.”

Labor leader Bill Shorten has slammed Pauline Hanson’s comments. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten condemned the comments.

“Heartbreaking and upsetting for parents of children with autism to hear @PaulineHansonOz say their kids don’t deserve the same opportunity,” he tweeted.

He read to Parliament an email he received from a parent in response to Senator Hanson’s comments.

“What the senator is saying is that our clever, funny, naughty, spunky kid doesn’t deserve a good education,” the letter said.

“That she doesn’t deserve the same opportunities as other kids. That she is lesser. Not worthy. Not really one of us.”

Crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie said she wanted disabled children in mainstream classrooms because it was great for all students, including those without disabilities.

“They learn compassion. They learn how to deal with these matters. It gives them coping mechanisms for the rest of their lives. Everybody wins out with this,” she told Parliament.

Autism Awareness Australia has slammed Senator Hanson’s comments as “appalling, archaic and cruel”.

“@PaulineHansonOz is a disgrace. Dangerous, hurtful and archaic thinking,” Chief executive Nicole Rogerson tweeted.

“This is one of the most disgusting things a member of Parliament could say.”

On Facebook, Ms Hanson complained her comments had been “taken out of context”, and encouraged followers to read her speech in its entirety.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is under fire for her comments on children with disabilities. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Originally published as Hanson under fire over disabled kids comments