Senator Pauline Hanson has met with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson to record a new podcast interview, sparking controversy over her association with the polarising figure.
Robinson Announces the Interview on Social Media
Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share news of their sit-down, describing Hanson as “one of the bravest lady’s (sic) on the planet.” In his post, he praised her as “fearless, relentless, consistent, fighting for the Australian people and hopefully the next leader of her nation.” He added that the podcast would be “coming soon.”
Background on Tommy Robinson
Robinson founded the English Defence League, a far-right Islamophobic group, in 2009. He has multiple criminal convictions and has previously been denied a visa to visit Australia. Just last month, he appeared on The Karl Stefanovic Show, discussing “free speech, censorship, immigration and the direction he believes Britain should be heading in.” That interview was removed from online platforms and led to Stefanovic’s high-profile exit from Nine. It was later reuploaded to Hanson’s Please Explain account.
Hanson’s Please Explain Account Promotes the Interview
The Please Explain account posted: “Tommy Robinson has a lesson for Australians. If we don’t learn from the UK’s mistakes on immigration and radical Islam, we are going to face the same destruction. This is exactly what Karl was trying to bring to Australia’s attention.”
Hanson’s UK Activities
News of the Hanson-Robinson podcast episode comes after the One Nation leader enjoyed a drink with former Neighbours star Holly Valance at ex-Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson’s pub in the UK. Valance posted on social media: “Nothing like a beer with your mate at the pub on a hot day.” The Senator’s Please Explain Account said Valance had been a “longtime supporter of true conservatives.” The post added: “While here in England, I took some time out to catch up with Holly Valance who has been a staunch backer of true conservatives both here in the UK and myself in Australia. Some big meetings lined up this week. I’ll have more to say about those discussions later in the week.”
