Nine has announced Australian senator Pauline Hanson will no longer appear as a commentator on The Today Show.
The decision to ban Hanson comes after the politician made comments on-air this morning about locked down Melbourne housing commission residents.
“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,” said Hanson.
“The government has taken food to them, they get paid extra money, they are getting methadone, they are given the drugs, they are looking after their addictions, what is your problem?”
Hanson also suggested that some of the residents who have fled war-torn countries would be used to such conditions.
In a statement, Nine director of news and current affairs said the network would no longer welcome Hanson onto the show following the comments.
“The Today Show has advised Pauline Hanson that she will no longer be appearing on our programme as a regular contributor,” Wick said.
“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 this national and global health crisis, Australians have to be united and supportive of one another. We need to get through this together.”
An online petition to remove Hanson from the show had circulated social media prior to Wick’s announcement.
Commenting on a now-deleted video of Hanson’s rant on Nine’s Twitter page, ABC journalist Paul Barry said: “Unbelievable. 1. That @PaulineHansonOz says all this stuff. 2. That 9 invites her on to say it 3. That 9 then gives her extra publicity by pushing it out on social media.”
Unbelievable. 1. That @PaulineHansonOz says all this stuff. 2. That 9 invites her on to say it 3. That 9 then gives her extra publicity by pushing it out on social media.
— Paul Barry (@TheRealPBarry) July 6, 2020
