Cape York leader and prominent Indigenous lawyer Noel Pearson has lauded controversial One Nation senator Pauline Hanson over her "principled patriotism", saying she could become a "champion" for Indigenous Australians.
"Salt-of-the-earth National Party types – practical people with Indigenous Australians in their electorates – are most open to honest discourse with their Indigenous countrymen," Pearson wrote in an opinion piece on Tuesday for News Corp.
"The average inner-city liberal has met few Indigenous Australians, let alone sought to understand their hopes and dreams, country people have lived and worked with them. Like Indigenous people, these Australians share an intimate love of and connection to their country. As patriots, they usually understand that the Indigenous heritage of this land is their heritage too."
The opinion piece commended Hanson's recent calls for the US government to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on charges he's facing regarding the leaking of classified information, with Pearson saying it showed "principled patriotism".
"On Assange, Hanson has demonstrated an ability to be principled, and to stand up for what’s right," Pearson wrote. "She has demonstrated fierce loyalty to an Australian countryman in need.
"Her national loyalty surpasses any left-right politicking. She could bring the same principled patriotism to her engagement with Indigenous people seeking a fair place in this country."
.@PaulineHansonOz says there is no definition of aboriginal. Live on #TheBoltReport, @SkyNewsAust https://t.co/bo4zK5cQUu
Pearson's opinion piece comes the day after Hanson told Sky News commentator Andrew Bolt "there is no definition of an Aboriginal".
She said: "What defines an Aboriginal? You know there's no definition to an Aboriginal. If you marry an Aboriginal you can be classified as an Aboriginal or if the community or the elders accept you into that community you can be defined as an Aboriginal."
Hanson made the comments while calling for changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to insult, offend, or humiliate someone based on their race.
"People need to toughen up a bit," she said. "I think we've all become so precious, we've stopped freedom of speech, to have a say, to have an opinion, and I remember when I was a kid, 'sticks and stones may break your bones,' and that was the old saying."
Hanson also condemned Pearson's alleged abusive outburst toward Queensland minister Kate Jones, whom he reportedly called a "white cunt" in 2009, but said it was up to "the people to judge us" and "not some people in an office making their determination".