One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has issued a qualified apology following controversial remarks she made about Indigenous Australians and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s late mother. The comments have sparked widespread criticism from political figures and Indigenous representatives across Australia.

Hanson, a senator from Queensland, faced backlash after describing Indigenous Australians as the "most primitive race on Earth" during a podcast last year. Speaking to reporters in Canberra on Tuesday, she acknowledged that her choice of words had caused offense but maintained her position on the broader issues she raised regarding Indigenous history in the school curriculum. "If I’ve offended people by using that term, yes, I will apologise for that," Hanson said. However, she added that she would not shy away from discussing what she described as pressing national challenges related to First Nations peoples.

Senator Hanson also addressed comments she made earlier this year about Albanese’s late mother, Mary-anne Albanese, who lived in public housing for much of her life. On a podcast, Hanson criticized the long-term use of public housing, referencing Albanese’s mother as an example. When asked if she regretted those remarks, Hanson said her comments were not intended to be derogatory and expressed regret only if they had caused offense. Prime Minister Albanese responded emotionally over the weekend, describing the attack on his mother as "stunned."

The remarks drew sharp condemnation from various political leaders and Indigenous organizations. Indigenous Australians Minister Malardrirri McCarthy described Hanson's statements as "totally outrageous and completely racist," while Liberal MP Jacinta Nampijinpa Price labeled them "appalling." Katie Kiss, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, said Hanson’s comments were a deliberate attempt to create division and warned that the harm caused should not be underestimated. The Human Rights Commission emphasized that such remarks have no place in the national conversation.

Hanson, whose One Nation party has gained significant political traction this year, acknowledged in a News24 interview that she was “not the most eloquent speaker” and often “put[ting] her foot in her mouth.” She expressed regret for upsetting people but maintained her view that Australia must confront difficult discussions about race and equality. Hanson advocated for treating all Australians equally on a needs basis rather than focusing on race, arguing that only then could the country move beyond its divisive past.

Indigenous Australians, whose ancestors have inhabited the continent for more than 60,000 years, face ongoing challenges; for instance, their life expectancy remains roughly eight years shorter than the rest of the population. The controversy surrounding Hanson’s comments underscores the sensitive nature of public discourse regarding Indigenous issues in Australia.