One Nation leader Steve Dickson apologises for causing offence but sticks by strap on comments

ONE Nation’s Steve Dickson has apologised for offensive comments he made in which he claimed teachers were educating young children about “strap on dildos” and “how to masturbate”.

One Nation State Leader Steve Dickson apologised if he “offended anyone”, but stuck by his claims while still offering no evidence. Picture: Lachie Millard

ONE Nation’s Steve Dickson has apologised for offensive comments he made in which he claimed teachers were educating young children about “strap on dildos” and “how to masturbate”.

One Nation State Leader Steve Dickson apologised if he “offended anyone”, but stuck by his Safe Schools claims while still offering no evidence. Picture: Lachie Millard

However, while the party’s state leader apologised if he “offended anyone”, he today stuck by his claims while still offering no evidence.

Mr Dickson issued a press release to “clarify” his comments regarding the Safe Schools anti-bullying program taught in select Australian classrooms.

At a BBQ with Pauline Hanson on Saturday, he told reporters One Nation was “about protecting the whole family unit”.

“And that takes me onto another note – the controversial Safe Schools program in Queensland.

“We are having little kids in grade four at school, young girls being taught by teachers how to masturbate, how to strap on dildos, how to do this sort of stuff – that is the real problem in this country.”

He said today that his comments were made following concerns for Year 4 students relayed to him by a parent and that it was one of the biggest issues raised with him in his Buderim electorate.

“I apologise if the specific words I used offended anyone, but I make no apology for One Nation’s policy to remove the controversial Safe Schools program from Queensland classrooms,” he said.

“It was never my intention to offend our educators who I have the greatest respect for.

“No child should be bullied at school for any reason, but this program is not an anti-bullying program.

“It contains highly explicit material directed at young children in their most formative years, without their parents or guardians knowledge or consent.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called Mr Dickson’s comments “absolutely atrocious” and “complete nonsense”, saying that while support was offered to parents and teachers, Safe Schools was not taught in Queensland.

Mr Dickson today claimed the program was being taught as recently as two weeks ago and called on the Premier to clarify her statement.

Originally published as One Nation leader Steve Dickson apologises for causing offence but sticks by strap on comments