Hanson plans return to politics. theage.com.au
Pauline Hanson has ruffled a few feathers with the announcement yesterday she was planning a return to federal politics and would campaign about industrial relations laws and the ease with which Muslims and "diseased" Africans were entering Australia.
"I've been on about water for many, many years - but also immigration," she said.
"Why shouldn't Australians know that the people we bring in to this country are there for the right reasons, and we bring them in for the right reasons?
"Why do we have to bring people in who are of no benefit to this country whatsoever, who are going to take away our way of life, change our laws?
"And I'm asking these questions. And it's about time someone dam well did, because the federal government is not addressing the concerns of the Australian people."
'They've got AIDS'
Ms Hanson also said she was concerned by the ease with which people were able to gain Australian citizenship, especially Muslims and Africans.
"We're bringing in people from South Africa at the moment, there's a huge amount coming into Australia, who have diseases, they've got AIDS," Ms Hanson told AAP.
"They are of no benefit to this country whatsoever, they'll never be able to work.
"And what my main concern is, is the diseases that they're bringing in and yet no one is saying or doing anything about it."
A Department of Immigration spokeswoman rejected the claims, saying stringent health checks were carried out on all permanent and temporary residents.
Refugee groups were angered by Ms Hanson's comments, calling them "fanciful", damaging and hurtful to Africans who were simply trying for a life in Australia.
But Ms Hanson said politicians had gone too far in affording rights to minority groups and she was angered at the loss of Australian traditions because of Muslims.
"Our governments have bent over backwards to look after them (Muslims) and their needs, and regardless of what the Australian people think," she said.
"You can't have schools not sing Christmas carols because it upsets others, you can't close swimming baths because Muslim women want to swim in private, that's not Australian."