Hanson swiftly condemned for labelling Indigenous Australians 'primitive race'

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has drawn widespread criticism over resurfaced comments in which she called Indigenous Australians "the most primitive race on Earth".

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has condemned Senator Hanson for "derogatory" and "completely racist" remarks, calling on her to apologise.

Asked last year on the conservative-leaning Jamie J podcast about schoolchildren learning Indigenous history in classrooms, Hanson said it was a "complete waste of time".

She claimed that a teacher had contacted her about a change in curriculum, where instead of being taught about Australian history and civil rights, students were learning about Aboriginal culture and language.

"And I'll say it on your program, what the hell have they done in this country? You know, supposedly 60,000 years, they'd never invented the wheel," she said last September.

"There was nothing there. What are we actually holding up? A few, you know, rock paintings. 

"Sorry they're the most primitive race on Earth and we're supposed to be holding them up and saying what they've achieved. They've achieved nothing."

Senator McCarthy called out the Queensland senator for the remarks which she labelled divisive.

"It's totally outrageous, completely racist, but also divides our country in a way that we do not want to see happen right here in Australia," she told reporters in Canberra.

"I do believe that as all Australians, we have to stand up and stand out against such divisive commentary, no matter whether it's on a comic, cartoon show or whether it's on a podcast.

"That is not the Australia I know, it is not the Australia I want to see, and I call on all Australians to condemn such commentary."

Senator McCarthy said as a Yanyuwa Garrwa woman she was personally impacted by the comments and wanted to reassure First Nation Australians that the government stood with them.

"I'm here, I'm with you, and I totally reject the comments by Senator Hanson," she said.

She said Senator Hanson's constituents deserved "an absolute apology" and it was up to the Senate to decide whether she would face any consequences.

'Vile racism': Politicians condemn Hanson's comments

Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle labelled the remarks "disgraceful".

"One Nation's platform of degrading Indigenous Australians is ignorant and does nothing to build our nation," she told ABC.

"I do think the curriculum needs to reflect our whole history but Pauline Hanson went low to unfair, unnecessary and unacceptable insult." 

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who Senator Hanson previously asked to stand for One Nation, also expressed her "disappointment".

"Some of the issues raised by Pauline Hanson are serious debates, many of which I have been very vocal about, but yet again, Senator Hanson has dragged the conversation into appalling territory," she said in a statement.

"It is a demonstration of wilful ignorance on her part, and reveals her complete failure to understand Australia's First Peoples."

Greens leader Larissa Waters said the comments were "vile" and whitewash 60,000 years of proud history.

"It just makes people full of hate and fear," she said.

"It's pretty clear that Pauline Hanson is finding it hard to find anyone she doesn't hate. She can't stand veterans. She's not happy about people on the NDIS. She doesn't like people using public housing and she doesn't like First Nations people."

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the unearthed comments show there is not a group in society the One Nation leader is not prepared to "kick down".

"I think it's only for someone who doesn't know anything about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture who can call it primitive," Ms Plibersek told News24.

The minister called out Senator Hanson's lack of knowledge, pointing to Brewarrina Fish Traps, which are thousands of years old, as an example of early agricultural Indigenous stewardship.

"I bet she doesn't know about that. If you don't take the time to learn about a culture you've got no right to call it primitive," she said.