Pauline Hanson faces criticism over ‘disgusting’ video ridiculing disabled Australians as senator ordered to make public apology
- Video appears to mock disabled Aussies
- Shows Greens Senator with sex workers
- Also describes NDIS as a “scam,” not a scheme
Pauline Hanson has been criticized for a video on her YouTube channel that appears to make fun of disabled Australians.
The video on the ‘Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain’ account shows Liberal leaders Peter Dutton and Susan Ley being told they are eligible for the NDIS following their shock loss in the Aston by-election.
“The Liberal Party is now eligible for the NDIS…the National Disability Insurance scam — settlement, settlement, I mean settlement,” says a doctor in the two-minute cartoon clip.
The video goes on to describe the scheme as the “biggest budget blowout to date” and falsely claims that people with stubbed toes are eligible for the program, as are Green voters, because they have a “cognitive disability.”
One clip appears to depict Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, who uses a wheelchair and is the nation’s first disabled senator surrounded by sex workers.
Pauline Hanson has been criticized for a video posted to her account that appears to mock disabled Australians
A clip appears to depict Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, who uses a wheelchair and is the nation’s first disabled senator, surrounded by sex workers
The video was labeled “abhorrent, hateful and discriminatory” by advocacy groups People with Disability Australia (PWDA) and Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI).
“The callous brutality of this propaganda by the Hanson team is sinking to new lows, with its offensive, inappropriate and inaccurate portrayals of disability support among the NDIS,” said PWDA President Nicole Lee.
That call was echoed by Head of Policy at AFI and former NDIS campaigner Craig Wallace.
“The video inspires hatred against people with disabilities and is a particularly grim and vile portrayal of the lives of very vulnerable people with disabilities…it should be roundly condemned by all decent Australians, including our national leaders,” said he.
The video alleged that circumstances such as stubbing a toe could make people eligible, something Mr Wallace said “shamelessly misrepresents” eligibility, with the reality that the NDIS is “very limited and limited to people with a permanent and significant disability’.
The video has been criticized by advocacy groups saying it is discriminatory and hateful
The video also said that Greens voters had a “cognitive disability.” Photo: YouTube
“Many people are still struggling to get basic equipment or personal care, others have had plans scrapped, and lengthy assessments and bureaucracy make this hardly a luxury,” he said.
The term “scam” was repeated throughout the video, something that Mr. Wallace took particular issue with.
It is also incorrect to suggest that people with disabilities are ‘swindling’ the scheme when we know that in reality we are more likely to be victims of scams, poor services and scams by services and companies that want to take advantage of people with disabilities,” he said. said.
PWDA and AFI have called for the video to be removed and “replaced with a public apology to the 4.4 million Australians living with a disability”.
NCA NewsWire has contacted Ms. Hanson and Mr. Steele-John for comment.
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Ms. Hanson said the senator was “on a break.”