Pauline Hanson has said that, in the wake of the murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children, all men should not be demonised “because these things happen”.
Hannah and her children Laianah, six, Aaliyah, four, and Trey, three, were killed by Rowan Baxter, their father and her estranged husband, in a horrific car fire.
The One Nation leader made suggestions that Baxter was “driven to it” and added that “these things happen”.
Speaking to Today, Hanson asked people not to demonise all men and went on to say a lot of people are “driven to this”.
“Don’t bastardise all men out there, or women for that matter, because these things happen,” she said.
“A lot of people are driven to this, to do these acts for one reason or another.”
Defence of Arndt
Hanson also used the television appearance to defend commentator Bettina Arndt.
Arndt had referenced comments by Detective Inspector Mark Thompson that police needed to keep an open mind over whether the deaths were a case of a woman and children suffering domestic violence or a “husband being driven too far by issues”.
Thompson has been stood down from the investigation over the comments, for which Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll publicly apologised.
Arndt had tweeted: “Congratulations to the Queensland police for keeping an open mind and awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility that Rowan Baxter might have been ‘driven too far’.”
Hanson on Monday defended Arndt and spoke out against renewed calls that the commentator be stripped of her Order of Australia.
“Bettina Arndt should not be stripped of her Order of Australia. She is clearly stating what she thinks and what a police officer said,” Hanson said.
The controversial politician also claimed that domestic violence murders by men get more coverage than those done by women.
“We don’t hear much about it when a woman has murdered her children by driving a car into a tree, she threw out a suicide note,” she said.
Hanson slammed
Hanson’s comments have been slammed on social media.
“These things don’t have to happen! Pauline Hanson is a disgrace!” one user said.
“I want Pauline Hanson removed from her position in the family law inquiry!” another added.