Hanson swiftly condemned for labelling Indigenous Australians 'primitive race'

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has criticised One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for "derogatory" remarks made on a podcast last year.

Senator Hanson called Indigenous Australians "the most primitive race on Earth", remarks that have earned widespread condemnation by politicians.

Senator McCarthy said it is up to the Senate to decide if Senator Hanson will face consequences for her remarks.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has drawn widespread criticism over resurfaced comments in which she called Indigenous Australians "the most primitive race on Earth".

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has condemned Senator Hanson for "derogatory" and "completely racist" remarks, calling on her to apologise.

Asked last year on the conservative-leaning Jamie J podcast about schoolchildren learning Indigenous history in classrooms, Hanson said it was a "complete waste of time".

She claimed that a teacher had contacted her about a change in curriculum, where instead of being taught about Australian history and civil rights, students were learning about Aboriginal culture and language.

"And I'll say it on your program, what the hell have they done in this country? You know, supposedly 60,000 years, they'd never invented the wheel," she said last September.

"There was nothing there. What are we actually holding up? A few, you know, rock paintings.

"Sorry they're the most primitive race on Earth and we're supposed to be holding them up and saying what they've achieved. They've achieved nothing."

Senator McCarthy called out the Queensland senator for the remarks which she labelled divisive.

"It's totally outrageous, completely racist, but also divides our country in a way that we do not want to see happen right here in Australia," she told reporters in Canberra.

"I do believe that as all Australians, we have to stand up and stand out against such divisive commentary, no matter whether it's on a comic, cartoon show or whether it's on a podcast.

"That is not the Australia I know, it is not the Australia I want to see, and I call on all Australians to condemn such commentary."