An Australian schoolgirl has drawn the ire of Pauline Hanson, with the conservative politician declaring the nine-year-old a "brat" who "needed a kick up the back side" after the schoolgirl protested the national anthem during an assembly by refusing to stand.
Harper*, a fourth grade student at Kenmore South State school in Queensland, was given a detention for not standing during the assembly.
Profiled by The Courier Mail, she said she believes the lyrics to 'Advance Australia Fair', such as "we are young", marginalise Indigenous people.
"The reason why I don't sing it or stand is because 'Advance Australia Fair' means advance white Australia," she said. "When it says we are young it completely ignores the fact that Indigenous culture was here for over 50,000 years before colonisation."
Later, Harper told ABC Brisbane she had made the decision to protest "mostly" by herself, but had talked about the anthem with her parents.
Initially demanding a written apology, Harper's school has offered a compromise that she not attend assembly at all, or sit outside while the anthem is played.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson responded to Harper's protest on Thursday via Facebook. The Queensland senator posted a two-minute video in which she said Harper had been "brainwashed".
"We're talking about a child who has no idea of what is history, what is happening, what we should do, and what we need to do. This is divisive."
Online, people were quick to point out that Hanson might be better served challenging other issues rather than the protests of a nine-year-old girl.
I want Pauline Hanson pulled out of the block universe, but we can't always get what we want. Also, get this little democratic hero's name out of your mouth, tout de suite. https://t.co/9C4uqX5M5t
Breaking news: Australian Senator Pauline Hanson threatens to physically assault nine year old schoolgirl. https://t.co/MwBbzlnmD2
Pauline Hanson says she’d kick the girl that refused to stand up for the national anthem. Nothing like a bit of violence to force inane nationalism upon nine-year-old school kids. #auspol #abcnews24
Maybe being the sort of politician who picks on a 9 year old for having an opinion she doesn't like is part of Pauline Hanson's problem here. https://t.co/ViZ6KDtkoh
Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of Hanson outlining her party's policies regarding Indigenous affairs. In the speech, Hanson said she wanted to dismantle Native Title, calling it a "shameless grab for land" that wasn't about reconciliation.