Senator HANSON (Queensland—Leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation) (16:11): This is the national apology remembrance. In 2008 the Stolen Generations received a national apology for the wrongs done to them by previous governments. As a nation we learned a lot when the Bringing them home report was released in 1997, and we have continued to learn in the years since. That report revealed the tragedies of many of those children, who were often terribly abused, neglected and unloved. The apology affirmed our nation's agreement that we should never accept or condone the removal of children from their families based on race. But today, as I stand in this place, I am deeply saddened by the knowledge that we have much more to be sorry for around our treatment of Indigenous Australians. Unlike many of the most vocal urban Aboriginal activists, I have visited remote Aboriginal communities throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. I've seen for myself how governments turn a blind eye to at-risk Aboriginal children. I have sat with elders and learned firsthand what they need and what they want in order to rid their communities of the evils of violence, abuse, alcohol and drugs. And I've seen how children are repeatedly returned to parents who persistently abuse or neglect them, parents who demonstrate a complete inability to deliver the care and attention those children so desperately need. We're talking about abuse and neglect that would make your toes curl: rampant alcohol and drug abuse; interfamily and domestic violence, some of the worst you will ever see; the starvation and malnutrition of children; the denial of education because too many Aboriginal parents refuse to send their children to school; and, worst of all, prostitution and paedophilia involving, reportedly, children as young as two—and all this in 21st century Australia, in one of the most economically and socially advanced countries on the planet. Why do governments of today refuse to remove at-risk children from these households? Why are they afraid to treat at-risk Indigenous children the same way they treat non-Indigenous children every day of the week, to protect children in any city or town in Australia? Why do they shame us all as a nation by not reaching out effectively and saving the lives and futures of these children and their communities? Like many Australians, I believe both sides of politics are all too afraid of being labelled as creators of a second stolen generation, as false as that accusation would be. They lack the courage and the will to act, in the face of the cancel culture, on behalf of these children and the families who desperately cry out for rapid and empowering solutions. So my apology is to today's Indigenous victims, the ones who live with and suffer from the horrors of child molesters; they are the ones who today, as we gather here, are breaking into people's homes to steal food from fridges. Today I'm saying sorry to all the Aboriginal children who should be spending their first few weeks in prep or primary school, but their parents simply don't care enough to get them there. I'm sorry for the children of parents who have told me they feel ashamed of their own lack of education and, tragically, can't support a world where their kids will earn more than them. I'm sorry for the sit-down money that we're paying a growing number of Aboriginal parents who have no inspiration to improve their own lives, let alone their children's, through meaningful employment. I'm also sorry for those Indigenous kids who have never been tucked into bed by loving parents but are instead ignored by those who are too busy drinking to worry where their kids are late at night. Of course, self-styled Aboriginal elites like Senator Thorpe would prefer we continue working, as she does, to create permanent victims out of First Nations people. Senator Thorpe— Senator Waters interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters is on her feet. Senator Hanson, I didn't catch what you said there. I am going to ask; I'll check the Hansard otherwise. Senator Waters interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, I've taken your point. I'm addressing it with Senator Hanson. I couldn't hear exactly what you said, Senator Hanson. I'm going to ask you to reflect on the words you used. If you think they were a reflection upon another senator, rather than a criticism of a senator's political activity, I'll ask you to withdraw. I will check the Hansard afterwards, otherwise. Senator HANSON: I won't be withdrawing. The PRESIDENT: Okay. Well, I'll check the Hansard, and if there's an issue I'll have to come back to the chamber, because I didn't hear the term used and I won't ask for it to be repeated at this point in case it is a reflection. Senator HANSON: Senator Thorpe seems to have made it her life's work, at least at present, to enjoy the substantial salary of her position while she works to ensure— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator HANSON: that Indigenous communities remain trapped by the permanent evils of victimhood— Senator Waters interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters! I'm listening very carefully. There is a tension between the rules guaranteeing almost absolute free speech in this chamber and the rules on negative reflections on other senators. I'm going to take some advice on the words that have been used here and I will come back to the chamber. I will also say that there are also standards that don't have to be reflected in rules, as I've often said, that can actually ensure the nature of good debate in this chamber. So, Senator Hanson, I'm not going to rule that that was an unparliamentary reflection. I will take advice because that was not absolutely clear from my understanding of the standing orders, but I will check the words very carefully. If it assigns a motive or imputes a motive, I will deem it unparliamentary. If it is a criticism of action then I'm afraid I don't think, as a general rule, that that can be deemed unparliamentary. But I will very carefully review the words. Senator Hanson, I'm also going to ask you to consider from this point forward, in the remainder of your speech, the rules on reflecting on other senators, because we do have stricter rules on reflections on members of the Senate and members of the House than we do on general comment. Senator Hanson. Senator HANSON: because, without victims, the senator and her Greens, truth-denying colleagues would have no relevance in this place. But I believe with all my heart that we can help create champions out of our Indigenous children—champions who go on to become contributing members of their communities and the broader working Australian society; champions who are proud to be Australian; champions who also insist on improving the health, education and prospects of future generations; champions who do not see themselves as victims. But most politicians in this place will only ever run decoy to the real issues plaguing modern First Nations Australians. We must remain colourblind to ensure the safety and upbringing of all our children, no matter their skin colour or culture. We must show courage and determination to provide the opportunities and pathways that will protect and empower all young Australians. We must call out the cowardice and the manipulation of the truth-denying elites who seek to keep any group of Australians trapped in permanent victimhood. We should behave like the advanced First World nation we are.