Hanson flies south to fire up anti-immigration mob
A controversial senator has been given a hero’s welcome by an anti-immigration mob and declared he will not kneel after the latest burqa demonstration.
Nearly 700 people, watched over by heavily armed police, marched in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday for an anti-immigration rally.
A further 500 people gathered for a counter rally but Victoria Police managed to keep the groups separate to prevent a repeat of a similar demonstration on 19 October.
As the group draped in the Australian flag marched from Flinders Street Station towards Flagstaff Gardens, chants of “Aussie Aussie Aussie”, “Put Australia first” and “Free Victoria” were chanted.
A man was arrested in Swanston Street after he was searched and allegedly found with finger powders.
Two people from Flagstaff Gardens were ordered to take action, including a woman who used a loudspeaker before running away from police.
Police are also investigating other incidents involving the display of a Nazi symbol, an unidentified man throwing a can of booze at officers and aggressive behavior.
The event was organized by anti-vaccine protester Monica Smit, who was also behind Saturday’s Sydney march, which drew nearly 400 people.
Ms Hanson was the keynote speaker at the Melbourne event and appealed for calm after scuffles broke out during her speech.
“Please don’t fight. We are not here to fight or argue with each other,” the Queensland One Nation senator said.
She used the nonsense to launch a diatribe against other senators who banned her for seven sittings in the Senate on Tuesday for wearing a burqa.
“The people will judge me, and they will judge me when I run for office in the next election,” Senator Hanson said.
“They say how long will you stay in parliament?
“Well, you know what? I’ll be there for at least another 12 or 18 years.”
Support for One Nation has been rising since it won 6.4 percent of the nationwide vote in May’s federal election; The last Newspoll put the party’s primary vote at 15 percent.
Ms Hanson said immigration was the “biggest issue” facing Australia right now.
He blamed “high” immigration under the Albanian government for housing shortages, health care pressures and job losses, and said it should be reduced until we “clean up our own backyard.”
The 71-year-old also touched on state politics and vowed to represent One Nation candidates in the 2026 Victorian elections.
“I’m not from Victoria and to tell you the truth, I don’t want to move to Victoria,” he said to cheers.
“I’ll stay in Queensland, thank you very much.”
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