One Nation's Brian Burston Just Wants Australia to Be White Again

One Nation's Brian Burston, who claimed a seat in the federal Senate after receiving just 8,216 first preference votes, made his maiden speech in parliament on Tuesday. And fair to say, he did not hold back.

The theme of Burston's speech was, essentially, white power. Arguing that Australia has lost its former "Anglo-Australian identity," he called for a return to the nation's supposed heyday in the 1950s and 1960s.

"Back then we were poor, but we knew implicitly that Australia belonged to us," implored the Senator, apparently unaware that Australia's migration laws were actually relaxed throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and the nation experienced a post-war economic boom. Instead, the Australia Burston is talking about more closely resembles that of the early 1900s, when the White Australia Policy was in full swing.

Regardless, Burston argued that Australia is being "swamped" by immigrants, and that society's supposed "steep decline" corresponded directly with an increase in "ethnic cultural diversity."

Despite the fact both major parties support one of the most conservative border security policies in the world, the senator was critical of both Liberal and Labor MPs for "keeping the immigration door wide open."

"This crisis is not caused by racism, it is not caused by Christian intolerance, it is caused by Liberal and Labor governments colonising Australia, aided and abetted by political correctness," he helpfully explained. Obviously, the choice of the word colonising is interesting given, you know, Australia's history.

Immigration was not the only item on Burston's agenda. He also took aim at the ABC, which he claims has been subject to a "cultural marxist takeover." Burston asked why "there is not one conservative program or anchor on the ABC, not one in a billion dollar enterprise?" Apparently, that Andrew Bolt show about constitutional recognition doesn't count.

However, the Senator wasn't just there to complain. He also proposed solutions. One included defunding the ABC and establishing a new channel, somewhat alarmingly called the "Patriotic Broadcasting Corporation," which sounds a lot like a state-funded radio station in North Korea. The PBC's mission would be "to represent the identity and interests of mainstream Australia."

Of course, Burston's comments don't come as much of a surprise. A former national director of One Nation, Burston has been at the party since the 1990s and was instrumental in its resurgence. He's always an unapologetic advocate for closed borders, and has previously labelled Islam "a religion of hate."

Still, his speech serves as a reminder that when it comes to wacky senators, Pauline Hanson might actually be the least of your worries.

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