Paul Hogan, the Australian actor best known for his iconic role as Crocodile Dundee, has fired back at politician Pauline Hanson over her concept of 'Australian monoculture', dismissing her with a barbed comment that has left many in Australia scratching their heads. In a recent Senate speech, Hanson - leader of the One Nation party - cited Hogan and comedian Norman Gunston as examples of what she considers essential Australian culture.
Hanson's comments were part of a wider discussion following her National Press Club address earlier this month, where she introduced her contentious idea of a singular Australian culture. She stated that these figures embodied "the essential features of Australian monoculture, and there's nothing remotely exclusionary about them". However, when tracked down by the Australian Financial Review in California, Hogan offered a starkly different perspective, reportedly saying, "She's a pelican, yeah," - a term he used to describe someone perceived as slow or ungainly.
The use of 'pelican' as an insult is not unprecedented for Hogan; his character in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee also employed the term. While there is no specific entry for 'pelican' in this context in the Australian National Dictionary, online consensus and historical usage suggest it refers to someone perceived as slow or ungainly, drawing from perceptions of the bird itself.
Hogan further elaborated on his views, asserting that Australia cannot be a monoculture given its history of immigration. He pointed out that "we're all migrants, except the Aboriginals, who as far as we know have been [in Australia] for 60,000 years". His comments underscore a significant cultural and political divide regarding national identity within Australia.
The exchange highlights the ongoing national dialogue in Australia concerning immigration, cultural diversity, and what defines the country's identity. Hogan's comments carry considerable weight, challenging a political narrative that seeks to diminish the nation's multicultural fabric. As such, this controversy has implications for British expats and tourists visiting or living in Australia, who may be interested in understanding the complexities of Australian national identity.
Source: The Australian Financial Review