2 days ago
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson ‘disgusted' by Sussan Ley's Acknowledged of Country speech
A 'disgusted' Pauline Hanson has hit out at Sussan Ley after she acknowledged traditional owners during a major speech to national media last week.
The One Nation leader has accused Ms Ley of double standards after the opposition leader performed an Acknowledgment to Country during her first major speech at National Press Club on Wednesday.
'I was disgusted. Absolutely disgusted with it,' Senator Hanson said.
'Because the Liberals, they were the ones that actually opposed the Voice to parliament.
'It wasn't just the Liberals that opposed it. It was a lot of people like myself, like Gary Johns, and then you had Barnaby Joyce and you had Jacinta Price.
'Once the public were informed about what it meant and changed in the Constitution, people were better informed and made their decisions about it.'
The senator told Sky News' Danica and James that Ms Ley wasn't the right person for the Liberal Party's top job, adding a 'true conservative' needs to replace her.
'It's going to be very interesting what happens the next three years under Sussan Ley,' she said.
'I think she will be overthrown before the next election.'
It comes after Ms Ley announced there is a 'time and place' for the declaration while her acknowledgment a stood as a far cry from the staunch stance held by her predecessor Peter Dutton.
Under Mr Dutton, acknowledgement of country addresses were missing from a number of major Liberal Party events and speeches.
Ms Ley perviously told ABC Radio it wasn't a 'boxing ticking' exercise.
'Look I think Acknowledgements of Country have their place, but in significant moments like yesterday was one of those places,' the Opposition Leader said.
'And as Environment Minister and Health Minister, I listened carefully and I participated in what I would describe as meaningful Welcome to Country ceremonies that involved the circumstances of Indigenous Australians with respect to our natural environment and their own health that were relevant and important.
'I don't think it should be at every work meeting, because I think that actually diminishes the value of what it is.
'So there is a time and a place, and it's about striking the right balance.'
A survey of 1005 Australians conducted by independent marketing research firm Dynata on behalf of the conservative Institute of Public Affairs last month found that more than half (56 per cent) of participants agreed Welcome to Country ceremonies have 'become divisive'.
IPA deputy executive director Daniel Wild said the survey results were proof 'Australians have had an absolute gutful' of the 'divisive and pointless' tradition.
Mr Wild argued Ms Ley's stance at the National Press Club was also 'at odds with modern Australia', and accused her of '[failing] to state who the purported traditional owners of the National Press Club are'.
Only 17 per cent disagreed with the statement, while 27 per cent said they were unsure.
Surprisingly, 48 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 — a demographic often thought to be more progressive than generations past — did not believe the ritual to be a unifying one.
Sentiment around the performance of Welcome to Country before major events like Anzac Day or sporting matches was more mixed — 46 per cent and 49 per cent respectively said they should no longer be performed before either event, versus 34 per cent and 30 per cent who said they should continue.
