Latest news with #CharlotteWalker
The Australian
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Australian
Pauline Hanson shares fiery comeback to Charlotte Walker after Net Zero debate
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has responded to Australia's youngest senator Charlotte Walker after she was accused of 'completely disregarding' the next generation and farmers by calling for Australia to abandon its net zero target. Senator Hanson, a long-time climate change denier, introduced the motion on Monday following Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce's private members Bill calling for the same thing. The motion failed, with just the four One Nation senators, United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet and coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic voting in favour. In the debate preceding the vote, Labor's new senator for South Australia Charlotte Walker fired back at the motion. Pauline Hanson has shared a comeback to senator Charlotte Walker. 'All I can say is, are you kidding?' the 21-year-old told the Senate. 'The motion put forward on net zero indicates a severe lack of knowledge and a complete disregard for the future of our generation, the future of our country. 'Without a net zero target, there will be no Australian farmers, businesses or industries to support us. 'Net zero is waking up to a reality that Senator Hanson has not been able to grasp. In fact, Senator Hanson seems to be hellbent on exacerbating all of the consequences of climate change.' However, following Ms Walker's remarks, Hanson shared a fiery comeback on Sky News, accusing Walker of being a hypocrite. 'She said she grew up on the farm – a farm that uses diesel and petroleum products to actually do the farming. I don't think she really understands about what net zero is,' she told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'Most of those parliamentarians have no idea about net zero … they can't debate you on the issue, they don't know the facts or figures, and this is why they just come in there and they just vote whatever way the winds blowing.' Charlotte Walker earlier accused Pauline Hanson of disregarding the future of younger generations and farmers. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Senator Hanson laughed, and added Walker shouldn't come in thinking she's going to 'tell me what I know or what I don't know when I have been dealing with this for many years'. 'She's no sooner out of bloody university and out of her nappies than she's telling me I don't know what the hell I'm talking about when I've been on the floor of parliament for the last nine years,' she said. 'I don't take any notice of her, who's just trying to make her place in this parliament – and congratulations.' 'They're gutless' Earlier, Senator Hanson challenged Coalition opponents of net zero to stand up and support her motion. Senator Hanson said her motion would out opposition 'cowards'. 'They're gutless, you know, they're cowards,' she told Sky News when asked about the prospect of Coalition senators not backing her motion. 'Because a lot of these people on the floor of parliament have no understanding, cannot debate you about climate change. 'They don't even know anything about it. 'They're making decisions and voting on it.' Mr Joyce's Bill proposes to abandon Australia's carbon-neutral target by 2050. The target is in line with goals set by other developed economies, but the task has been complicated by rapid energy demands from emerging economies and global disruptions driven by increased conflicts, such as Russia's war in Ukraine. Among Mr Joyce's supporters gathered outside Parliament House was fellow former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, another hefty voice in the party. Liberal MP Garth Hamilton also joined him, making him the only member of the senior Coalition partner to do so.
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘No idea': Hanson hits back at 21yo senator
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has responded to Australia's youngest senator Charlotte Walker after she was accused of 'completely disregarding' the next generation and farmers by calling for Australia to abandon its net zero target. Senator Hanson, a long-time climate change denier, introduced the motion on Monday following Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce's private members Bill calling for the same thing. The motion failed, with just the four One Nation senators, United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet and coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic voting in favour. In the debate preceding the vote, Labor's new senator for South Australia Charlotte Walker fired back at the motion. Pauline Hanson has shared a comeback to senator Charlotte Walker. Credit: Supplied 'All I can say is, are you kidding?' the 21-year-old told the Senate. 'The motion put forward on net zero indicates a severe lack of knowledge and a complete disregard for the future of our generation, the future of our country. 'Without a net zero target, there will be no Australian farmers, businesses or industries to support us. 'Net zero is waking up to a reality that Senator Hanson has not been able to grasp. In fact, Senator Hanson seems to be hellbent on exacerbating all of the consequences of climate change.' However, following Ms Walker's remarks, Hanson shared a fiery comeback on Sky News, accusing Walker of being a hypocrite. 'She said she grew up on the farm – a farm that uses diesel and petroleum products to actually do the farming. I don't think she really understands about what net zero is,' she told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'Most of those parliamentarians have no idea about net zero … they can't debate you on the issue, they don't know the facts or figures, and this is why they just come in there and they just vote whatever way the winds blowing.' Charlotte Walker earlier accused Pauline Hanson of disregarding the future of younger generations and farmers. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Senator Hanson laughed, and added Walker shouldn't come in thinking she's going to 'tell me what I know or what I don't know when I have been dealing with this for many years'. 'She's no sooner out of bloody university and out of her nappies than she's telling me I don't know what the hell I'm talking about when I've been on the floor of parliament for the last nine years,' she said. 'I don't take any notice of her, who's just trying to make her place in this parliament – and congratulations.' 'They're gutless' Earlier, Senator Hanson challenged Coalition opponents of net zero to stand up and support her motion. Senator Hanson said her motion would out opposition 'cowards'. 'They're gutless, you know, they're cowards,' she told Sky News when asked about the prospect of Coalition senators not backing her motion. 'Because a lot of these people on the floor of parliament have no understanding, cannot debate you about climate change. 'They don't even know anything about it. 'They're making decisions and voting on it.' Mr Joyce's Bill proposes to abandon Australia's carbon-neutral target by 2050. The target is in line with goals set by other developed economies, but the task has been complicated by rapid energy demands from emerging economies and global disruptions driven by increased conflicts, such as Russia's war in Ukraine. Among Mr Joyce's supporters gathered outside Parliament House was fellow former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, another hefty voice in the party. Liberal MP Garth Hamilton also joined him, making him the only member of the senior Coalition partner to do so.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Australia's youngest senator, 21, launches a furious attack on Pauline Hanson: 'All I can say is, are you kidding?'
Australia's youngest senator has blasted Pauline Hanson and suggested the One Nation leader is stupid for trying to scrap the nation's net zero target. Ms Hanson, 71, introduced a motion on Monday to scrap Australia's net zero emissions target, claiming the goal continues to 'destroy jobs and the Australian economy.' 'Power bills are out of control. Manufacturing is being wiped out. And ordinary Australians are paying the price, while out-of-touch politicians and inner-city idealists push fantasy policies they'll never have to live under,' Ms Hanson said. 'We are being led by fools. Shame on every politician who continues to push this madness. I will not stand by while Australia is driven into the ground.' But before the vote, new Labor senator for South Australia Charlotte Walker, 21, slammed Ms Hanson — and suggested that Ms Hanson struggled to grasp the concept. 'All I can say is, are you kidding?' she said. 'The motion put forward on net zero indicates a severe lack of knowledge and a complete disregard for the future of our generation, the future of our country. 'Without a net zero target, there will be no Australian farmers, businesses or industries to support us. 'Net zero is waking up to a reality that Senator Hanson has not been able to grasp. In fact, Senator Hanson seems to be hellbent on exacerbating all of the consequences of climate change.' In the end the motion from Ms Hanson ultimately failed with only he four One Nation senators, United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet and Coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic voting in its favour. 'Labor, the Greens and the crossbench voted it down. And the Liberals? Cowards. They had the notice. They had the time. And they still ran for the exits. Not one of them had the guts to stand and be counted,' Ms Hanson said. Meanwhile, Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce on Monday launched a seperate bid to repeal the net-zero emissions by 2050 reduction target. But his private member's bill is guaranteed to fail, because it lacks the support of the government which has a majority in the House of Representatives. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley maintains the coalition will wait until after a review of its disastrous May election loss before making formal policy decisions. Despite a growing number of Liberal politicians speaking out against stronger climate change action, she doubled down on waiting for the review. 'We're going to bring all of those views together ... to flesh out the different perspectives, the expert advice and, of course, focus on this government's miserable failure when it comes to energy policy,' she told Sky News. Asked about the political impact of dumping the climate target, Ms Ley said she would not foreshadow the review's outcome. Many Liberal moderates want the net-zero target retained so the party is seen to be taking climate action seriously. But Mr Joyce said there was no reason why abandoning the targets should be off the table. 'This is not about leadership. This is not about trying to create some sort of discordant note,' he told reporters ahead of the bill's introduction. 'There's not anything in this bill that the coalition didn't have the same position we voted for.' Mr Joyce has the backing of his former leadership rival Michael McCormack. The two ex-deputy prime ministers are critical of Nationals leader David Littleproud's handling of the aftermath of the election defeat. The coalition reunited at the end of May following a messy week-long split driven by divisions which included energy policy.
Sky News AU
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Labor senator acknowledges 250 nations across Australia
Sky News host James Macpherson discusses 21-year-old Senator Charlotte Walker's speech in which she acknowledges 250 nations across Australia. 'So, we now have a senator who speaks as though she's representing a geopolitical version of Eurovision, minus the sequins and catchy songs, of course, rather than representing Australia,' Mr Macpherson said. 'But seriously, when she acknowledged more than 250 nations, I couldn't help but think that when you speak at a full assembly of the UN, you don't acknowledge that many nations. 'We've taught kids for two decades that Australia is illegitimate, that our national flag is offensive, and that unity is actually oppressive.'
Sydney Morning Herald
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia's youngest-ever senator goes back to school
Charlotte Walker became the youngest person ever elected to the Senate on her 21st birthday, which fell on the same day the Albanese government was re-elected for its second term. The South Australian senator attended Senate school on Wednesday, learning the ropes with the other new senators. They will all take their places in the upper house chamber on July 22, when federal parliament sits for the first time since the national poll. At an age when many of her peers are enjoying university life, Walker said she was focused on driving policies to reduce student debt, improve housing affordability, reduce domestic violence and improve access to government services in regional areas. 'The biggest issue with getting into the housing market is saving for that down payment,' she said. Loading 'I'm really looking forward to getting out and talking to local people, making sure that we have proper regional representation in our parliament.' Walker grew up on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, studied at the University of Adelaide and took a job with the Australian Services Union. She will now switch to a full-time job as a politician, but one less than half as old as the average member of parliament, who is 50 years old. 'Growing up in the country, I didn't see myself in the parliament, so that's definitely a priority of mine,' she said. 'Another issue I saw a lot of growing up is domestic violence. The lack of access to services really saw that issue maximised.'
