Pauline Hanson lashes ‘racist’ Fraser Anning

The One Nation leader has accused her former candidate of trying to be “another Pauline Hanson”.

Senator Pauline Hanson. Picture: Hollie Adams

Pauline Hanson has labelled former One Nation candidate Fraser Anning a “racist” and accused him of trying to be “another Pauline Hanson”.

Senator Anning was widely condemned after he blamed the Christchurch massacre in March on Muslim immigration.

Senator Anning also called for a ban on all Muslim and “black” immigration to “ensure safety for Australians once more”.

Fraser Anning. Picture: Tom Huntley

Speaking from Perth before flying to Victoria this afternoon, Senator Hanson told The Australian Senator Anning was “extreme” and would not be re-elected at the forthcoming election.

“People throw the word racist around too freely, they don’t know what they’re talking about, but when you actually target a person based on their skin colour, that is racist because that means you believe your race to be superior to them,” Senator Hanson said.

“That blacks should be banned — that in itself is a racist comment.

“What he says is extreme, it’s unacceptable … you will find people out there who might have that opinion, but it’s not my opinion and not something I’ve ever said or will ever support.

“I feel now he has nothing to lose, I think he’s trying to be controversial, to be another Pauline Hanson.”

Senator Hanson said past comments of hers, including that Australia was “being swamped by Asians”, were not racist because they were “factual”.

“It caused the government to actually look at the policies,” she said.

In response, Senator Anning questioned why he would try and emulate Senator Hanson, who he said had “lost her way”.

“Unlike Pauline, I would never preference Labor everywhere over a conservative party like mine, nor would I back track on Muslim immigration or endorse a Muslim candidate,” he said.

“Pauline has lost her way. She isn’t the same person she was when I ran for her in Fairfax.

“I have called for a plebiscite on immigration to give the Australian people a chance to have their say on who comes here. Since when did democracy become ‘racist’?”

Senator Hanson did not support a Senate censure motion against Senator Anning following his comments on the Christchurch attacks.

“The people will have their say. Not politicians beating their chests about this. He is an elected member of the parliament. He has a voice,” she said at the time.

‘I’ll work with Labor’

Senator Hanson says her One Nation party will work constructively with a Labor government as long as its measures are “right for the country”.

Senator Hanson restated her opposition to Labor’s retiree tax, but said she was open to working with Bill Shorten on other matters should Labor form government.

“I will work with a Labor government and I will pass its legislation if I think it’s right for the country and the people,” she said.

“That’s my main aim, to work for the people.”

On Labor’s plan to scrap franking credit cash refunds to people who have paid no tax, Senator Hanson said it was wrong to “go after retirees”.

“The companies have paid their company tax, they paid the tax, so why then is Labor wanting to rip these people off who rely on the money?” she said.

“Why should we go after them?

“If Labor is so desperate for money, why don’t they go after the unions who are getting tax-free money, instead of the independent retirees who have worked hard to save their money?”