Pauline Hanson’s first – and possibly only – appearance at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday was destined to be a political moment. The 90-minute performance, including a question-and-answer session, was theatrical and defiant, shocking and appalling many. Some observers were left questioning how Australian politics has reached this point, with Hanson climbing the political ladder, as reflected in polls and recent electoral results. However, trends abroad suggest Australia is not immune to such developments.
A Defiant Performance
Hanson was largely unrestrained during her address. If one word could sum up the outing, it would be defiant. She openly displayed her resentment at being written off, ridiculed, and often treated discourteously by the media and politicians over the years. “Every attempt has been made for years to silence me,” she said. “In fact, there are always some people, usually a lot of people, who get offended by what I say or do, even offended by my very existence.” In the media den, she played it her way, on her terms.
Attacks on Media
Her anger, particularly towards journalists and their organisations, erupted in personal attacks. She labelled a Guardian journalist as “trashy” for writing investigative pieces about One Nation and asking about her daughter Lee Hanson. She pledged to scrap SBS and largely defund the ABC, turning it into a subscription service. She also declared selective bans on media organisations and made a joke about the Nine Network, whose reporter had been impertinent to her in Perth recently. The media, careful in their approach, could not escape her jibes, aware they were also under scrutiny.
The Banner Stunt
National Press Club officials were taken aback when a giant anti-Hanson banner unfurled at the back of the stage. Such an incident was unprecedented. While the stunt could only help Hanson, she appeared shaky for a few minutes as she continued her speech. The Press Club later issued a statement: “We have referred the relevant footage and other evidence to the AFP for further investigation.” The organisation GetUp! claimed responsibility. David Sharaz, husband of Brittany Higgins, was identified as the GetUp! representative present. It is believed two individuals entered the club building without permission and installed a separate drop-down screen. A third person activated a remote device to trigger the banner. Sharaz filmed the incident on his phone and left abruptly afterward.
Policy and Rhetoric
Hanson’s speech was not well-delivered as a set piece; it ran overtime and seemed cobbled together, lacking new policy announcements. She reiterated familiar positions, including denouncing radical Islam: “I will not hesitate to call it out for being incomparable with Australian values and our way of life.” She rejected multiculturalism, stating, “We are a multiracial society, but we must be monocultural. Australians must live under the one cultural umbrella.” She proposed abolishing numerous government agencies and departments, and sacking the heads of the Human Rights Commission and the Sex Discrimination Commission. She launched a massive attack on the “transgender insurgency,” claiming, “The transgender ideology has penetrated almost every regulatory authority.”
Lack of Evidence
Hanson does not shy away from claims lacking factual backing. When pressed for evidence on her statement that the late Tim Fischer called her a witch to be burned at the stake, she simply said, “It was definitely written in the newspaper,” despite Fischer’s biographer Peter Rees being unable to find it. One Nation lacks detailed policy, but Hanson refuses to be rushed. On tax, she wants to consult experts before deciding. On child care, which she described as “completely out of control,” she called for inquiries. She avoided attacking the Reserve Bank when given the opportunity.
Appeal to Disaffected Voters
Disaffected voters flocking to Hanson may only see snippets of her performance, curated through her slick social media. They have largely made up their minds about her. These supporters likely resonate with her sentiments: “Many people feel that they can’t indulge that essential Australian characteristic of speaking out and speaking up, because the risk of speaking out is simply too great. They feel demonised and condescended, and they’re mad as hell about it.” This explanation captures the earthquake reshaping Australia’s political landscape. Pauline Hanson, now a political insider, drums up support by convincing alienated Australians they are outsiders, and that she, at heart, is one too.
