Pauline Hanson slams Games ceremony for being 'too Aboriginal'

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson made a controversial statement about her heritage as she has attacked the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has claimed she is Indigenous.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has claimed she is Indigenous. Source: AAP

Pauline Hanson has denied she is a racist after complaining of the "disgusting" focus on Indigenous culture during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

In a controversial interview with Sky News, the One Nation leader also said she considered herself "Indigenous" because she was born in Australia. 

"I've got nothing against the Aboriginals but I'm sick and tired of being made to feel as if I'm a second-class citizen in my own country," she said.






"I am Indigenous as far as I'm concerned. I was born here this is my country as much as anyone else."  

The opening ceremony on the Gold Coast featured Indigenous performer Mau Power, the first hip-hop artist to emerge out of the Torres Strait, and world-renowned didgeridoo player William Barton.

Asked what she thought of Wednesday's spectacular, Senator Hanson said the "20 minutes" devoted to Indigenous culture was "absolutely disgusting".

"Here we have an Aboriginal who was doing a rap song which I couldn't understand," she told Sky News.

"I'm not used to Aboriginals who sing rap, although fair enough."

She also didn't have much time for Mr Barton's performance either, arguing the majority of Australians don't watch didgeridoo music.

"Our country is not based on the Aboriginals. Our country is what it is because of the migrants that have become here," Senator Hanson said.

"It was over the top. There was a lot of aspects of our country that should have been in the opening ceremony of the games. Not watching didgeridoos."

Senator Hanson also attacked the levels of taxpayer money being spent on Indigenous welfare.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing this pushing about reconciliation and the gap, and yet outside the Games we had people that were protesting," she said.

"How many billions of dollars have we poured into the Aboriginal industry?"




She accused people of falsely "claiming aboriginality" to claim welfare before taking a shot at Indigenous land rights.

Senator Hanson hit back at claims her comments were racist, arguing her One Nation party wanted equality for all Australians.

"I'm sick and tired of people having a go at me because it's racism," she said.

"Don't call me a racist when people don't know what the hell I'm talking about."



 


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Source: AAP


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Pauline Hanson slams Games ceremony for being 'too Aboriginal' | SBS News