Australian Human Rights Commission Media Release
The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has condemned Islamophobic comments made by One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson that targeted Muslim Australians.
Senator Hanson made the remarks during an appearance on Sky News on Monday night.
‘I hesitate to respond to remarks like these because doing so risks giving further oxygen to sentiments that should have no place in our public debate. But comments that single out and diminish any community have real and lasting impacts,’ Commissioner Sivaraman said.
‘Words that stigmatise and devalue people do not strengthen our society. They increase fear, deepen division, and intensify pain and harm that many in our communities have experienced for far too long.
‘Australia’s Muslim communities – like all our communities – deserve to feel safe, respected and included. Public figures have a responsibility to elevate our national conversation, not inflame tensions, divide us or undermine the dignity of others.
‘To those who speak about the importance of social cohesion: you cannot build it by isolating, belittling, or casting suspicion on an entire group of Australians. Unity starts with respect.
‘I call on Senator Hanson to withdraw her remarks and offer an apology to Muslim Australians.’
Racism is endemic. This week, Commissioner Sivaraman released the Respect at Uni report – the largest and most comprehensive examination of racism and discrimination in Australian universities. It revealed particularly high rates of harm experienced by students and staff from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, including those of Muslim and Jewish heritage.
The report recommends a coordinated, sector‑wide response aligned with the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti‑Racism Framework.
‘The data is there. Racism is widespread. Now is the time for us to come together – to reject division, to uphold dignity, and to build a more respectful and inclusive Australia,’ he said.
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Why hasn’t Poor Lean been charged under the hate speech laws?
Hanson cannot justify her statements. It cannot be dismissed as her getting steamed up and saying something in the heat of the moment. It was a despicable, calculated move. She deserves to be condemned and even charged over it.
This woman has been given too much leeway She has been allowed to do some outrageous things – even in the Senate. When will some authority or other just get her removed from politics and back to the “chip shop. “She has absolutely nothing intelligent to contribute – ever and neither does her recent recruit to her desolate party- “the reprobate” from New England – B. Joyce – unless something weird from a prone position. Possibly about water rights or development under land which he owns?
Hanson’s replies would be along the lines of:
“Are you going to apologise?”
“Please explain, “apologise”?”
“Say you’re sorry for you comments.”
“Please explain, “sorry”?”
And so and so forth.
Aw shucks ….. Porelean abusing Muslims in general shows the White Supremacist roots of the Only Nutters, clinging to the myth of English empire in the 19th century and working to return Australia there for the benefit of our kids in the 21st century. Some thinking legacy!!
Rather, calling Poorlein a White Supremacist racist and applying that label to all Queenslanders is exactly the same strategy. Certainly we have obvious examples of political ”irregularity” in Queensland, like a Premier who escaped trading his company while insolvent by paying a reported $200,000 fine, but NOT all Queenslanders are that corrupt.
@ Judith: So you remember that back in 2013 Beetrooter promised to divest himself of his then two ”grazing properties” in the Pilliga Scrub that were reported to be over significant CSG deposits. He failed to do this.
Sleeping with a planter box is the least of his too many ”crimes”. Beetrooter joined the Only Nutters because reports had the NOtional$ Election Committee changing the Chairperson to a very competent lady who revoked his enduring pre-selection for the next feral elections in 2028. Beetrooter always looks after his own pecuniary interests before making any attempt to represent the best interests of voters in New England.
Whether ”leadership” of the Only Nutters passes to the new recruit will likely be determined by the self-serving James Ashby of the Peter Slipper scandal; also better known for protecting his interests than masquerading as concerned for the ”common good”.
The reality is, you pass all the legislation you like, it won’t stop the way people think. You either have free speech or you don’t, you may not agree with what a person says, but you have no right to stop them saying it. Controlling what one says or thinks is fascism pure and simple.
Interesting that Hanson can say there are “no good Muslims” with no consequences but chanting “from the river to the sea Palestine will be Free” could lead to criminal charges in Queensland.
What a crazy world we live in!
So tell us Terry, just what is wrong with the saying”The river to the sea, Palestine, will be free”? It defines an area of land, it makes no mention of a people or religion, would you prefer from the West Bank to the coast?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/20/pauline-hanson-afp-federal-police-muslim-comments-ntwnfb
No charges (yet), but it has been refered to the AFP.
jonangel
I think we may be at cross-purposes on this issue but to be clear, what I am saying, essentially is that we need a Bill of Rights in this country so that freedom of speech and communication is enshrined.
What I object to is some jumped up LNP politician enacting legislation to penalise a citizen for saying something like from the River to the Sea or other such slogans.
In the present context I take it to mean from the river to the sea Palestine shall be free referring to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing historical Palestine, which has been a focal point of political discourse regarding Palestinian statehood and rights for many years.