Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the motion of my colleague Senator Roberts. The existing classifications for books, films and computer games need to be reviewed. While those on the left have no problem exposing children to extremely harmful material, most Australians have a superior morality. This was evident in the outrage of the Australian community at Big W stores stocking a children's book with explicit pornographic images and instructions on how to perform various sex acts. It even had instructions on sending images of naked children, which is unlawful in Australia. Big W took the book off the shelves, but it remains for sale online and on Amazon. The author of this piece of filth says she would have no problem with a mature eight-year-old reading the book. It is a contradiction of terms. There's no such thing. This incident is just the latest of many in Australia and overseas of harmful material being marketed at children.

It is therefore appropriate we have an honest examination of the current classification system to ensure it is fit for purpose and is protecting children from exposure to harmful material. The impassioned comments tonight from Senator Roberts and also Senator Babet and Senator Antic are indicative of what the Australian people, commonsense Australian people, think. If this is going to be completely thrown out tonight and doesn't get up in the vote, then I do question the people in this chamber. I think it would be disgusting if you didn't take the concerns of the Australian people seriously, because there was an outcry when they heard about the book being on the shelves in Big W, to the extent that they actually took the book out of that store.

The author said that she has no problems with a mature eight-year-old reading it. Well, I'm a grandmother that has an eight-year-old grandson, who will be turning nine this week. I have another one that turned nine last April. I'd be absolutely flabbergasted and horrified if they picked up this book, because I don't believe at this stage in their lives they should be reading this rubbish. I picked up the book and flicked through it, and I saw the pages in it: 'How to have anal sex', and then you had two women having sex together also. This is just disgusting—the whole book.

For you to not consider that this should be reclassified—it's not what the Australian people want. It's the same as what you've done to me in this chamber with gender dysphoria. You actually have turned a blind eye to what is happening to our children out there. You know what I'll say to you? If you're going to vote this down, and if you're going to vote against the gender dysphoria motion, there are a lot of sick puppies in this place. There really are. You really need to actually consider what you are voting on. People out there expect us, as leaders of this nation, to protect our children, and if you vote this down you're not protecting children.

I hear you speak highly of paedophiles who are preying on our children. You make out that you're really concerned about this.