Pauline Hanson has been branded a racist after she sensationally stormed out of the Senate during the Acknowledgement of Country.
Senate President Sue Lines acknowledged the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples as the traditional custodians of the Canberra area and paid respect to past and present during the opening of Wednesday’s sitting.
The acknowledgement is given daily and is followed by a prayer.
But before Senator Lines could finish the acknowledgement, the One Nation leader interjected.
“No, I won’t,” she yelled, adding “I never will.”
While it wasn’t captured on the parliamentary broadcast feed, NCA Newswire snappers then caught Senator Hanson fleeing the scene.
Senator Hanson stormed out of the chamber. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage
Senator Hanson has been accused of racism for her decision to storm out. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage
Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, a proud Djab Wurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman, quickly condemned the “disrespectful” move.
“Day two of the 47th parliament and racism has reared its ugly head,” she tweeted.
“Pauline Hanson disrespectfully stormed out of the acknowledgement of Country in the Senate, refusing to acknowledge “those people.” You want to make parliament safe? Get rid of racism.”
The protest comes as the Senate is due to consider a motion to display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in the chamber alongside the Australian flag.
Anthony Albanese made a point to include the flags in the backdrop of his first prime ministerial press conference after being sworn in.
The three flags are already displayed side-by-side in the House of Representatives.
