Australia’s race discrimination watchdog on Feb. 18 called for an apology following comments by a hard-right lawmaker directed at Muslims.
Anti-immigration Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, said on Feb. 16 that Australia should adopt a “tough stance” against Islam and radicalisation.
“Their religion concerns me, because what it says in the Quran: they hate Westerners, and that’s what it’s all about,” the senator told Sky News Australia.
“You say: ‘Oh, well, there’s good Muslims out there’. Well, I’m sorry, how can you – you know – tell me there are good Muslims?“
Comments that “stigmatise and devalue” people serve to increase fear and deepen division, said Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman.
“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.”
“I call on Senator Hanson to withdraw her remarks and offer an apology to Muslim Australians.”
Ms Hanson backpedalled earlier in the day, telling public broadcaster ABC that she did not in fact believe there were no good Muslims.
She added, however, that she was sorry if she offended anyone “that doesn’t believe in sharia law, or multiple marriages, or wants to bring ISIS brides in, or people from Gaza that believe in a caliphate”.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Feb. 17 that her comments were “wrong and cruel”, and unworthy of someone in public office.
Recent opinion polls indicate that One Nation is outperforming the main conservative opposition coalition of the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia.
It remains uncertain how that level of support for One Nation would translate into results at a general election.
One Nation currently holds one seat in the 150-member lower house of the federal parliament and has four senators in the 76-seat upper house.
Australia’s next general election is due to be held by May 2028.
