In the spotlight again after speaking at the against alleged Islamisation of Australia held over the weekend, Pauline Hanson said she believes the choice by Indigenous people to stay in remote communities needed to be respected.
The Western Australian government says it's unable to fund the communties and due to Federal Government cutbacks up to 150 of them will have to close.
“Equality is what I call for, if people want to live in the cities and by the standards that we have here, then everyone [should be] treated equally and the same, but if you want to live by your Aboriginal way and culture, well, I think that should be protected," she told NITV News.
She said part of the issue was that politicians from both sides had failed to consult Indigenous communities and had used the community for political ends in the past.
"Of course, especially with the Aboriginal people, and over the years as a member of Parliament I had meetings with elders and I totally agree with what they were saying - I think they have used the Aboriginal issue, the politicians, as a political football over the years without really sitting down and talking to the elders and seeing what is best for the Aboriginal people,” she said.
Hanson also said perceptions she is a racist are inaccurate after she spoke out against elements of Islamic culture at a Reclaim Australia rally on the weekend.
"Well, in the past I have been accused of being a racist, and accused that’s all, because there is no proof of me ever saying anything that is racist. I have only ever called for equality for all Australians,”she said.
She also gave support for constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians, provided it did not create land rights problems around native title.
"I have no problem with the recognition of Aboriginal people as traditional owners of this land but at the end of the day we are all Australians together and we must share this land together in harmony side by side because I was born here as well... I don't know of any other land that I would fight for."
"It is a process we both must take part in. And I see on the streets here where we have Aboriginal children who came and spat on my face, spat in my face. That is not the way it should be and it distresses me. We can’t have hatred from either sides like I said, I've always called for equality and we must see peace and harmony, we must teach young ones coming through and I'd like to see unity."
And while she narrowly missed out on a seat at the recent Queensland election - Hanson says she's not about to exit the political stage.
"Now that I am back as leader of One Nation and national chairman and leader of the party I will be standing candidates in the Senate in every state and hopefully lower house seats as well," she said.
