Pauline Hanson has angrily left the Senate chamber during the opening of the Recognition of the Country after dismissing its validity.
President Sue Lines recognized the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples as Traditional Custodians of the Canberra area and paid respect to elders past and present at the opening of Wednesday’s session.
Senator Hanson interjected, shouting “No, I won’t and never will”, before storming out of the chamber.
The One Nation senator told AAP she could not accept Welcome to Country or a motion to move later on the same day as raising the Aboriginal flag in the Senate chamber.
“I’ve felt this way for a long time,” he said.
“I have called from day one for equality for all Australians. I see this as divisive.”
He said if anyone needed recognition it was “our people who have fought for this country. People who have sacrificed their lives.”
Senator Hanson added that the indigenous flag had “never been voted on” and criticized the recognition in the country.
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe responded to Hanson’s actions in the Senate today. Source: Twitter
“I will never disrespect (the flag). I find that flag divisive,” he said.
“Now we’re hearing it on flights and airplanes. Sorry, this is my country too.
“This is moving towards division in our nation. Them and us. And we will never close the gap if we continue down this path. All Australians should be treated equally and equally.”
In a statement to SBS News, Ms Hanson’s office said she would refuse to recognize the country in the Senate “from this point forward”.
Indigenous Greens senator Lidia Thorpe slammed Senator Hanson on Twitter, calling the action “disrespectful”.
“Day two of the 47th parliament and racism has reared its ugly head,” he wrote.
“Pauline Hanson disrespectfully walked out of the country’s recognition in the Senate, refusing to recognize ‘those people.’
“You want to make parliament safe? Get rid of racism.”