One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been booted from regularly appearing on Nine’s Today Show following “divisive” comments about the residents under lockdown in Flemington and North Melbourne’s public housing apartments.
The decision follows Senator Hanson’s appearance on the program this morning for a segment about the residents currently under hard lockdown after 24 coronavirus cases were diagnosed in two estates.
Senator Hanson defended the government’s lockdown measures, suggesting the residents are being taken care of by authorities.
“We’ve seen food being delivered there,” she said. “The fact is, a lot of them are drug addicts as well, they are getting their medication, they are alcoholics so they’re being looked after in that way.”
Sanator Hanson went on to say: “A lot of these people are from non-English speaking backgrounds. Probably English is their second language, who haven’t adhered to the rules of social distancing. They all use a lot of the same laundry.
“So, the fact is, you’ve got to look at why they’re in that situation. Why has the government gone to this high-rise building and shut it down? Possibly because a lot of these people weren’t doing the right thing. Is the government worried about the other areas that are shut down? You know, the people in their homes- are they actually about to get out and buy the food as well?
“There has to be a reason why they’ve targeted this set of apartment blocks. Ask that question. These people, I saw them taking truckloads of food to them and all the rest of it. If they’re from war-torn countries, which some of these people are, they know what it’s like to be in tough conditions,” Senator Hanson said.
“These people who cannot speak English, don’t know what the hell to do and they’re actually then spreading it to other people,” she added. “When you come to Australia, as lots of Australians say, you learn to speak English.”
The Today Show posted the segment to Twitter, saying: “Pauline Hanson has made a number of controversial comments on Melbourne’s public housing quarantine this morning. What do you think? Has the One Nation leader gone too far?”
The tweet was later deleted and a statement released from Darren Wick, Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs saying Senator Hanson will no longer regularly contribute to the show.
“The Today Show has advised Pauline Hanson that she will no longer be appearing on our programme as a regular contributor,” the statement reads.
“We don’t shy away from diverse opinions and robust debate on the Today Show. But this morning’s accusations from Pauline Hanson were ill-informed and divisive. At a time of uncertainty in the national and global health crisis, Australians have to be united and supportive of one another. We need to get through his together.”
One Nation responded to the announcement saying, “Anyone looking to see what all the fuss is about can watch One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson’s full interview with the Today Show on her Facebook page.
“Controversial or just common sense? See for yourself and make up your own mind!”
