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Pauline Hanson wants to “get rid of” autistic children from mainstream classrooms

The One Nation Leader said they're only there because "we don't want to make them feel hurt".

Pauline Hanson wants autistic children removed from mainstream classrooms.

The One Nation Leader argues that teachers spend too much time helping autistic children to the detriment of other children in the classroom.

“These kids have a right to an education by all means, but if there are a number of them these children should actually go into a special classroom, looked after and given that special attention,” she said in the Senate this morning.

“Most of the time the teacher spends so much time on them they forget about the child who wants to go ahead in leaps and bounds in their education, but are held back by those.

“It’s no good saying we have to allow these kids to feel good about themselves and we don’t want to upset them and make them feel hurt.”

Senator Hanson said parents and teachers had raised the issue of having autistic children, as well as children with disabilities, in the mainstream classroom with her.

“We have to be realistic at times and consider the impact that is having on other children in the classroom.

“We need to get rid of those people because you want everyone to feel good about themselves.”

Ms Hanson has also said her party will support the Federal Government’s $18.6 billion school funding package, despite the difficulty they had deciding to back it.

“I hope this will improve our educational standards if it is addressed in the classroom,” Senator Hanson said.

She also criticised Labor who are refusing to support the $22 billion cut to the original Gillard Government’s Gonski funding.

“I think it’s a good start, $18.6 billion. That’s a start, why can’t you work with the government with regards to this and then build on that,” she said.

“Stop opposing things just because you’re on the opposition. It’s about working together for the future of this nation. I just get so frustrated with the whole lot of you.”

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