Doug Cameron takes issue with Pauline Hanson's 'racist rant'

Labor senator Doug Cameron has told Pauline Hanson she doesn't deserve her place in federal parliament following her tirade against Muslim Australians.

Labor Senator Doug Cameron

Labor Senator Doug Cameron responds to One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson's anti-muslim speech in the senate Aug. 9, 2017. Source: AAP

Pauline Hanson was asked by fellow senator Doug Cameron to apologise over a "racist rant", and told she does not deserve her seat in federal parliament.

The One Nation leader, fresh from announcing she would move to refer one of her own senators - Malcolm Roberts - to the High Court over his eligibility, launched a tirade against Muslim Australians in the senate.

She accused major political parties of hiding evidence of high unemployment and social welfare dependence among Muslims.

Instead of working or joining the Australian Defence Force, Muslims preferred to "fight for ISIL in Syria and Iraq", she said.
"Australian Muslims are a significant drain on the public purse," she told parliament.

She accused Labor of making a decision to "sell its soul for the Muslim vote".

Labor politicians held onto 15 federals seats with Muslim populations of 10,000 or more, according to the One Nation leader.

"A small but fast growing group opposed to our way of life is bending Labor to its will."

Labor frontbencher Doug Cameron was due to speak about homelessness following a speech by Senator Hanson on Wednesday, but changed his mind, insisting it was important he challenged her "racist nonsense".

Senator Cameron said Muslims were doing more for Australia than Senator Hanson was.

"Muslims make contributions to this country that you will never make," he told the chamber.

Her "rubbish speech" risked the cohesion of Australian society, he said, calling for her to apologise.

"That racist speech, that speech that will divide Australia, and make us a poorer nation," he told parliament.

"You do not deserve to be in here, running that sort of racist nonsense."

Senator Hanson had started her speech by claiming to be a supporter of migrants coming to Australia.

"I am not anti-migrant," she said.

"One Nation supporters have a positive view of migrants when they are willing to become active citizens to work to make Australia a better place."


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: SBS World News, AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world