by Suprovat Sydney: Home Affairs Minister Hon. Tony Burke has launched a scathing attack on Pauline Hanson after the One Nation leader appeared to endorse the White Australia policy during a podcast with a British far-right activist. Speaking alongside controversial figure Tommy Robinson—whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Senator Hanson linked modern immigration challenges to the dismantling of the historic policy, which restricted non-European migration from 1901 until it was scrapped in 1973. When asked by Robinson about social issues surrounding African and South Asian migrants, Senator Hanson pointed to the 1970s policy shift.
“They opened up and got rid of the White Australian policy, then they started bringing in different migrants,” Hanson said, praising post-WWII European immigrants for assimilating while claiming some current migrants arrive “purely for the welfare system.” Addressing reporters on Saturday alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to release a report on rising anti-Muslim sentiment, Mr Burke condemned the comments. “I never thought when I entered parliament that in my political lifetime anyone who had been elected would be calling for White Australia,” Mr Burke said.
“Part of saying you love Australia is to love Australia for who we are, not some perverted concept of a country where we would turn on each other… You will never find an orchestra where every instrument is the same. “Prime Minister Albanese reinforced the message, declaring that hate directed at any community hurts the nation as a whole. “Diversity is one of Australia’s great strengths, and we won’t as a nation let hate divide us,” he stated. The government’s comments came as Special Envoy on Islamophobia Aftab Malik delivered a landmark report outlining the systemic challenges facing Muslim Australians.
“Islamophobia is real. It is widespread. It is debilitating. And it is unacceptable,” Mr Malik warned, calling the report the start of a broader journey to tackle prejudice at its roots. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a scathing rebuke of Pauline Hanson’s controversial immigration comments. Mr. Albanese firmly stated that Islamophobia and racial division have “no place in Australia. “He accused the One Nation leader of consistently “undermining social cohesion” over her decades in politics. The Prime Minister warned that political leaders carry a heavy responsibility to unite the country rather than stoke prejudice. Pointing to the nation’s history, Mr. Albanese reminded the public that moving away from the White Australia policy was a positive, bipartisan effort. He stressed that ending the discriminatory policy in the 1960s and 1970s made Australia a stronger and better society. Addressing the rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred, he warned that “hate directed at one community hurts us all.” The Prime Minister declared that multicultural diversity remains one of Australia’s greatest national strengths. He made it clear that his government will not stand by and allow hatred to divide the Australian public. “Every Australian deserves to be safe, respected, and at home in our country,” Mr. Albanese asserted. He reaffirmed that Muslim Australians have an absolute right to practice their faith peacefully and without fear. The PM urged citizens to appreciate fellow Australians for who they are, rather than succumbing to divisive rhetoric. His strong intervention coincided with the formal release of the government’s response to the Special Envoy on Islamophobia. Mr. Albanese backed Special Envoy Aftab Malik’s call to address hate speech and systemic prejudice at its roots. He highlighted existing government measures, including tougher hate crime laws and bans on extremist hate groups. The Prime Minister emphasized that prejudice is not an intrinsic human trait, but something that is taught and amplified by fringe figures. He cautioned voters about the real-world dangers of supporting political candidates on the extreme fringes. Mr. Albanese reiterated that every citizen has the right to be valued for their contributions to the nation. He pledged that the Commonwealth would take practical action to safeguard places of worship and vulnerable communities. Ultimately, the Prime Minister framed the fight against intolerance as a necessary defense of Australia’s democratic values.