Pauline Hanson says ‘these things happen’ after dad burns three kids and wife to death

Pauline Hanson’s “dangerous” Rowan Baxter comments have pushed Lisa Wilkinson to ask why the One Nation firebrand has a regular platform on TV.

Pauline Hanson has suggested killer dad Rowan Baxter may have been “driven to it” when he burned his three children and wife to death, adding “these things happen”.

Speaking on the Today show this morning, she called on Australians not to “bastardise all men” as a reaction to the despicable crime in Brisbane on Wednesday where Baxter killed his three children and wife by setting them on fire.

“Don’t bastardise all men out there, or women for that matter, because these things happen,” she said.

On domestic violence she said: “A lot of people are driven to this, to do these acts for one reason or another.”

Her comments on the Today show have prompted former host Lisa Wilkinson to ask why the One Nation leader is given a “regular weekly platform” on breakfast television.

“Why oh why does breakfast TV continue to give this woman a regular weekly platform?” she tweeted. “She is dangerous. Worse, she is taking these attitudes to her role as deputy chair of the Family Law inquiry.”

Ms Hanson said domestic-violence-related murders committed by women didn’t appear to get the same amount of coverage as those committed by men.

“You know, this has been for a week we have been in the news nearly every day about this horrific tragedy,” she said.

Pauline Hanson said ‘these things happen’ after Rowan Baxter killed his family. Picture: Today

“But we don’t hear much about it when a woman has murdered her children by driving a car into a tree, she threw out a suicide note.

“Or the woman who doused her husband with fuel and set him alight and said she was possibly driven to it.

“Hopefully the family law inquiry will get to the bottom of it.”

She also defended commentator Bettina Arndt, who made controversial comments about the Baxter murders.

Ms Arndt praised a Queensland detective Mark Thompson for saying Baxter may have been “driven too far” — comments which led him to being taken off the case.

“Congratulations to the Queensland police for keeping an open mind and awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility that Rowan Baxter might have been ‘driven too far’,” Ms Arndt wrote on Twitter.

Rowan Baxter killed his children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey.

“But note the misplaced outrage. How dare police deviate from the feminist script of seeking excuses and explanations when women stab their partners to death, or drive their children into dams but immediately judging a man in these circumstances as simply representing the evil violence that is in all men.”

Her tweet renewed calls for her to be stripped of her recently acquired Order of Australia honour, but Senator Hanson defended the comments.

“It was a horrendous act of what he did to his children,” she said. “It was a tragedy and I am very deeply sorry for everyone.

“Family and friends involved in this treacherous of what he did to his former wife and his children.

“But Bettina Arndt should not be stripped of her Order of Australia. She is clearly stating what she thinks and what a police officer said.

“This is why I have pushed for the family law inquiry to get behind what is happening on this.”

RELATED: Hannah Clarke’s emotional texts before her death revealed

A vigil was held for Hannah Clarke and her children yesterday.

Senator Hanson’s comments come just hours after mourners heard the heroic and loving nature of mother Hannah Clarke at a vigil in South Brisbane to remember her and her three murdered children, Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey.

Friend Simon Farmer spoke to The Australian about Ms Clarke’s final hours in hospital, after she had suffered burns to 97 per cent of her body.

“We were in the ICU and we knew there was no hope,’’ Mr Farmer told The Australian.

“The nurse held up the footprint and said, ‘This is all we could get’. It was just an incredibly powerful moment.’’

The day after Ms Clarke’s murder, Mr Farmer posted on Facebook about the “unease” shared among her friends about “what Rowan might do”.

“He had it in him many thought,” Mr Farmer posted.

Mr Farmer said Baxter loved his children, but “we can’t remember him as a loving father because his final act is what defines this man, this man who became a monster”.

He also talked about Ms Clarke’s final hours in hospital after the tragedy.

“She hung in there too … until the last heartbeat brought a tidal wave of grief and anger. I’ll never forget that.

“You should all know how strong she was, she fought so hard.”