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Pauline Hanson Declares Welfare Recipients Have 'Lost The Right' To Spend Money On What They Want

Pauline Hanson Declares Welfare Recipients Have 'Lost The Right' To Spend Money On What They Want

She also blasted an Aboriginal senator who said that Hanson had 'a white father'.

Jessica Lynch

Jessica Lynch

Pauline Hanson has taken aim at welfare recipients in an explosive speech in which she declared they had 'lost their rights' on how they choose to spend the money.

The One Nation leader spoke to the Senate in support of implementing a cashless debit card that would hold 80 per cent of welfare payments. The idea behind the card was to stop the purchase of drugs, alcohol and pornography.

The card has been approved for trial for another two years after the Senate agreed in a slim majority vote.

The plan was to make the card permanent in Ceduna in South Australia, the East Kimberley and Goldfields regions in Western Australia, and the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region of Queensland.

In arguing the case for the card, Hanson unleashed a tirade upon welfare recipients: "That's what this card is about. It's not about a person's rights.

"When you go onto this card, you basically lose your rights as well. If you go on a welfare system, you've lost your rights."

She continued: "There have been increased purchases of baby items, food, clothing, shoes, toys and other goods for children.

"That's why they are quite happy to be on the card. They can say: 'I can't give you money. I haven't got it.' Humbugging is in these communities. They know that family members are taking money from them."

The furious speech didn't end there, with Hanson turning her ire on the Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe who has described the card as 'racist.'


"I can't let go what Senator Thorpe said earlier in this chamber. She commented that it's her land,'' Senator Hanson said.

"Senator Thorpe talks about her land. What about the white part? Where's her white father in all of this, who I should say is a member of the One Nation party?"

Deputy President of the Senate, Sue Lines, later demanded that Senator Hanson withdraw the comments.

"Senator Hanson, are you arguing with the Deputy President of the Senate? I've directed you to withdraw those remarks,'' she said.

"It is my responsibility under the standing orders of the Senate to ensure that debate is within the standing orders.

"I further remind you of a statement the President made on several occasions in this place about how this is a workplace and how we need to respect one another and to not refer to other senators in a personal way.

"So I would ask you to withdraw the remarks that you made about Senator Thorpe's family. It's not a debating point. I'm directing you to do that, so please do that."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Australia, Politics

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