Statement by One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson

This week we were asked by Senator Thorpe and the Greens to tick off on amendments to Native Title legislation which contained no mention of accountability for funds, outcome evaluations of expended monies, effectiveness of the management of funds and every other audit or performance related process that normally applies to the use of taxpayer funds.

It’s almost as if Senator Thorpe is saying to the Australian people that indigenous communities and authorities should be held to a lower standard than the rest of Australia in their use of taxpayer funds.

Senator Thorpe relishes her moment in the spotlight when she has an opportunity to harp on the theme of perceived indigenous oppression and constantly label indigenous Australians as oppressed victims.

Senator Thrope and the Greens are truth deniers when it comes to indigenous issues. They preach only the negatives, do it relentlessly and hope some of it might even stick in uninformed minds as fact – that’s a classic tactic of the left that we see every day in this place and across the media.

If Senator Thorpe really wants to empower any group of Australians, she might consider calling on the government to ensure there are strong accountability and audit measures incorporated in any advance of federal funds irrespective of background, race, religion or gender.

If you want to be seen as empowering the group you represent, irrespective of background, race, religion or gender, if you want to escape the need for federal funding and if you want to create for yourselves a sustainable economic future, you may want to consider including in your amendments performance reviews that closely examine how effectively the funds were used and include how the funds can be better used next time to deliver better outcomes all around.

It's called gradual improvement.

Unlike Senator Thorpe and the Greens, I have faith in our indigenous Australians. I have faith in all Australians.  I was raised to think of myself as a proud Australian woman. I also know that by recognising and applauding success, by providing checks and balances, by reviewing and carefully auditing performance and by always seeking to empower and improve we will prosper as a people and as a nation.

Australia is a country of equal opportunity. It’s not a country that should ever regard one group more or less equal than another and it should never be a country that perpetuates victimhood against any group.

You can watch Senator Hanson’s full speech by visiting her Facebook page

The McGowan Government did no strategic planning for a COVID lockdown, according to One Nation WA leader and Southwest MLC Colin Tincknell.

Mr Tincknell said Premier Mark McGowan had failed to use the 10-month grace period of no community COVID infections in WA to develop a strategic plan for a potential lockdown.

“To leap to total lockdown without contingency planning is totally irresponsible and the ultimate act of hubris from this arrogant Premier who really believed he could stop COVID ever coming into WA,” he said.

“As a result, many families and small businesses in financial hardship and everyone left in confusion as to what they could and couldn’t do in lockdown.

“There was no thought about the damage it would cause businesses and individuals.

“It been disastrous for many small businesses who have had to continue to pay staff while they have had no turnover, for individuals who rely on casual wages to live from week to week and for families trying to juggle children and work commitments.”

Mr Tincknell said the Premier had the entire resources of the public sector, a massive budget surplus and a 10-month grace period to develop plans and initiatives to help people through a lockdown.

“The Premier did not even have ready a comprehensive list of which businesses would be allowed to stay open – we had some open Monday but ordered closed Tuesday - testing sites were overwhelmed in heatwave conditions and even who could exercise together changed from one day top the next,” he said.

“We hear from the Premier and Treasurer ad nauseum that WA is driving the economy of the nation, and how lucky we are but there are plenty of people out there this week not feeling very lucky at all.”