logo
Pauline Hanson says no one will defend Australia if kids are taught to acknowledge Country in schools

Pauline Hanson says no one will defend Australia if kids are taught to acknowledge Country in schools

News.com.aua day ago
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson believes teaching children to acknowledge country in school will condition people not to feel like they are part of Australia, and leave the nation defenceless in the face of war.
Speaking on 10 News+, Senator Hanson said she wouldn't defend the country if she felt like the land belonged to one race of people.
The One Nation leader defended her decision to reject Welcome to Country ceremonies in the Senate when she was questioned why her party's senators were present during ceremonies when they did not have to be there.
One Nation senators were called out by their Labor and Greens counterparts over 'childish stunts' and 'hurtful' behaviour when they turned their backs during proceedings.
Senator Hanson said they had a right to be there and the new senators wanted to experience the opening of the Senate.
'But it's also to be a voice for the Australian people that have had a gut full of it and don't want to hear Welcome to Country anymore,' she said.
'It is showing leadership, that you don't have to go along with this.
'When our kids have been taught in school to put their hand on the ground and say, you know, acknowledge the land is Aboriginal, we're not making people feel part of this country.
'And I'll ask the question, if we ever have war that touches our shores here and we've conditioned the people think this is not our land, it belongs to another race of people, how many Australians are going to get up and fight to defend it?
'I won't.'
The Queensland senator hopes her legacy will be that people thought she did her best to stand up for a fair go for all Australians, without fear or favour, and promised to run again in three years time.
'I think that's important, people want that from their politicians,' she said.
'But I'm a conviction politician and I've had so much thrown at me – I've have been to prison, had everything bar the kitchen sink thrown at me.
'Guess what, I'm still standing, the problem is people have underestimated me.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The aggressive courting of Tasmania's crossbench MPs is heating up with two weeks until fresh no-confidence motion
The aggressive courting of Tasmania's crossbench MPs is heating up with two weeks until fresh no-confidence motion

ABC News

timean hour ago

  • ABC News

The aggressive courting of Tasmania's crossbench MPs is heating up with two weeks until fresh no-confidence motion

After weeks of uncertainty, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff's bid to be recommissioned for another term was endorsed by the state's governor on Wednesday morning. The decision led to bookmakers paying out on bets for the election, and plenty of big grins from Mr Rockliff. And he's been hard at work finalising a shake-up to his cabinet that could be announced as soon as Thursday morning. But things aren't as finite as they seem. In just two weeks, state parliament will be recalled. And Labor leader Dean Winter has confirmed Mr Rockliff's government will face a motion of no-confidence when that happens, barely two months after a successful no-confidence motion triggered July 19's snap state election. So how can it be the case that after an election that was supposed to resolve all the uncertainty, we're back here again? Firstly, the 2025 election no-one really wanted delivered an eerily similar parliament to the one elected a year before. In 2024, there were 14 Liberals, 10 Labor MPs, five Greens and six other crossbenchers — three Jacqui Lambie Network MPs and three independents. This time around, there were again 14 Liberals, 10 from Labor and five from the Greens, and six others on the crossbench. The only real change is that there are five independents, and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP. The Liberals are still in minority and the tensions that existed before the election — about a lack of transparency from the government, concerns about its handling of big projects and the budget — are still very live. Also, unlike last year's election, where Mr Rockliff's reaction to winning just 14 seats was to immediately move to secure four confidence and supply agreements in a bid to deliver stability, this time he hasn't tried. He's argued the agreements are good, but not necessary. Then there's the matter that at least 19 of the 35 lower house MPs are either Labor MPs or from the progressive side of politics — the five Greens and independents David O'Byrne, Peter George, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland. That, plus the lack of confidence and supply agreements, has opened the door for Labor, who didn't try to govern after the last election in 2024 or two months ago following the successful no-confidence motion it moved to step up negotiations with the crossbench. That's the other huge difference to what unfolded two months ago. Labor is actively trying to form a minority government of its own, despite winning just 10 seats. To do that, it needs the support of the Greens, plus at least three other crossbenchers. So there are two parties trying to win over the six non-Green members of the crossbench, and only one of them has picked a side, with independent MP Craig Garland saying he'll vote for a no-confidence motion and support the formation of a Labor government. It means those five other crossbenchers — including three entirely new to parliament in independents Peter George and George Razay and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco — have less than two weeks to decide if they want to depose Mr Rockliff and install a government led by Mr Winter instead. They're all being aggressively courted by the Liberals and Labor, who will meet with all six on Thursday. In her decision published on the Government House website, Governor Baker said Mr Rockliff's incumbency meant he had the right to remain in office until parliament decided whether it had confidence in him. And with Tasmania's constitution requiring premiers and ministers to be commissioned within seven days of the election writs being delivered, Governor Baker says she could not afford to wait for a parliamentary vote. "I consider myself bound to make an appointment within that period, because the state must not be without a government," Governor Baker said. But the return date of August 19, much sooner than some were expecting, means that the political uncertainty won't last for too much longer. Within two weeks, Tasmanians will have an answer to the question an election couldn't solve: Who's going to be the state's next long-term premier? Both sides have mounted arguments about why it should be them. But the biggest task now sits with Mr Winter, who sat at the helm while his party suffered a 3.1 per cent statewide swing against it and failed to win a quota in his own right in the seat of Franklin. He's got to make Tasmanians understand why the parliament is again debating kicking out a premier who received more than two quotas in his seat of Braddon. And convince people that this time, a no-confidence motion is a positive move to install a Labor government, not a negative tactic to oust a popular premier when he's got no plan to lead the state himself. And he's got to convince the crossbench, including a Greens party he's at least publicly ignoring, that he's the right man to lead the state, despite his party being rejected at the election. And convince them to risk facing public backlash and support a no-confidence motion, knowing full well all the commentary that doing so will lead to. Despite the governor's decision, Tasmanian politics is still extremely turbulent. And there will be huge consequences for the party, and the leader, caught on the wrong side of the power play that's still got weeks to unfold.

How many Australians are fighting with Israel's military in Gaza? This group is monitoring
How many Australians are fighting with Israel's military in Gaza? This group is monitoring

SBS Australia

time2 hours ago

  • SBS Australia

How many Australians are fighting with Israel's military in Gaza? This group is monitoring

An Australian legal group says it is preparing a formal criminal complaint to the federal police seeking investigations into Australians serving with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for any potential offences committed. The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) reached out to the government in early June, requesting it issue warnings to the Australian public about the risks for Australians fighting for the IDF. It said such warnings should ensure citizens were aware "that engaging in hostilities with the Israeli military in the unlawfully occupied Palestinian Territory, may expose them to criminal investigation and prosecution under Australian law", or elsewhere "where there is evidence that they have participated in the commission of international crimes". Lara Khider, acting executive director of ACIJ, told SBS News: "We are currently monitoring at least 20 individuals who are serving or have served in the Israeli military, and are preparing criminal complaints to the AFP [Australian Federal Police] seeking investigations into potential offences against the Commonwealth." A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed to SBS News the department "does not track the movements of Australians overseas". "The Australian government encourages all Australians who seek to serve with the armed forces of a foreign country to carefully consider their legal obligations and ensure their conduct does not constitute a criminal offence," the spokesperson said. Is fighting for another army legal? Under Australian foreign incursion laws, it's not illegal to serve with a foreign government army — but recruiting someone to do so is. Australian authorities do not actively monitor Australians who may be serving in foreign armed forces, but the Australian Border Force may provide travellers leaving the country with information about their obligations under Australian law. Credit: AP The foreign incursion laws state it's an offence to enter a foreign country with an intention to engage in a hostile activity, unless serving in, or with, the armed forces of the government of a foreign country. It's illegal to recruit people to join an organisation engaged in hostile activities, or to serve in, or with, a foreign military. But the federal attorney-general can allow recruitment of people to serve with an armed force of a foreign country if "it is in the interests of the defence or international relations of Australia". "It is well known that Australians are currently serving in the Israeli military, and there have even been reported instances of recruitment occurring on Australian soil," Khider said. The exact number of Australians who've served or are serving has not been confirmed by Australian authorities. A freedom of information request in 2024 revealed ABF had intervened with three of four Australian citizens suspected of departing for Israel for military service since 7 October 2023. The Australian Border Force (ABF) previously confirmed that when it becomes aware that a person is departing Australia with the intention of travelling to a potential conflict zone, it "provides the traveller with information on their obligations under Australian law". The AFP said it cautioned all Australians who seek to engage in hostilities overseas to carefully consider their legal obligations and ensure their conduct does not constitute a criminal offence. "Any Australian suspected of committing a criminal offence while in a conflict zone may be investigated by the AFP, and, where appropriate, may face prosecution," a spokesperson told SBS News. The Australian Centre for International Justice is monitoring at least 20 Australians who have served or are serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Source: EPA / Abir Sultan The ACIJ pointed to the 2024 ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide in its war on Gaza . In the ruling, the ICJ called on Israel to "take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide", and ordered Israel to "prevent the commission of acts" that fall under under the Genocide Convention — which include "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part"; and "killing members of the group". The ACIJ said Australia, as a state party to the Genocide Convention, has legal obligations to take all possible measures to prevent genocide. Australia is also party to a number of international human rights treaties and recognises the ICJ and its jurisdiction on international law matters. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said last year the IDF is "a professional military committed to international law". Government warns Australians at the border SBS News obtained a copy of a letter from Attorney-General Michelle Rowland addressed to the ACIJ about the issue, in a reply dated 28 July. In the letter, Rowland said while it was not appropriate for the government to provide specific legal advice, "the government has been clear that all parties to the conflict must comply with international and relevant domestic legal obligations". Rowland said the government "continues to discourage" Australians from engaging in conflict overseas, and advocates for the protection of civilians, the upholding of international law and the unhindered flow of aid to the region. "The government continues to caution all Australians who seek to serve with the armed forces of a foreign country to carefully consider their legal obligations and ensure their conduct does not constitute a criminal offence," Rowland said in the letter. "Where appropriate, the AFP may work with foreign law enforcement agencies and international bodies as part of any potential investigation." However, ACIJ said it had been raising its concerns on the issue with the Australian government since December 2023 and said the government's reply was "manifestly inadequate". "The limited cautions issued to date do not sufficiently reflect the seriousness of the atrocities occurring against the Palestinians in Gaza," Khider said. "Issuing vague or weak cautions does not discharge Australia's obligations under international law. "The government must act with urgency and clarity to ensure that its international legal responsibilities are met, and that Australians are not complicit in atrocity crimes." An Australian war crimes investigation unit Greens senator David Shoebridge said his office had inquired nine months ago into why the Australian government was not tracking people fighting in the Israeli and Russian militaries, and had yet to receive a reply. "The Australian government's current policy is 'head in the sand'," Shoebridge said. "If you don't look for war crimes, you won't find them. "The conflict in these areas has only intensified, and concerns about people being implicated in war crimes have only heightened." "We know that thousands of people have been travelling to Israel over recent months, many to fight in the IDF, which is a concern when the government does not track or monitor who is fighting in this appalling war," Shoebridge said. The number of Australians serving or having served with the IDF has not been confirmed, but News Corp in 2023 reported there could be up to 1,000 who have served or were active reservists at the time. The Greens want a War Crimes Investigation Unit set up in Australia. "Other countries have these bodies, and they are effective. The lack of one in Australia makes everyone less safe."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store