Pauline Hanson slams ‘un-Australian’ opponents amid surge in poll support
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has taken a swipe at Anthony Albanese for slamming laws introduced following the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Ms Hanson is riding a rising tide of popularity after last week’s Gazette poll put her party ahead of the Coalition in primary votes, up seven points to 22 per cent. The coalition fell from 3 to 21 percent.
And signs at many Australia Day rallies promoted the idea of a One Nation leader becoming Prime Minister, with the sighting of “Pauline 4 PM”.
The party currently has only one MP (Barnaby Joyce, who left the National Party) and four Senators.
But he took to the stage in Brisbane and received thunderous applause from his supporters in what felt like a street party, with music, flags and crowd chants.
The rally continued peacefully, but there were occasional angry outbursts among attendees about immigration and the Prime Minister.
Addressing the crowd, Ms Hanson dismissed climate change concerns, praised Australia’s mining and manufacturing sectors and said she had spent her political career “bringing this country back together”.
“I was so proud of my country… all I ever did in my political life was bring this country back together,” he said.
He warned against newly passed hate speech laws, arguing they could be used to silence minor parties and restrict debate on immigration and multiculturalism.
“We can never give up our freedom of expression… I will not let them stop me, I will continue,” he said.
Ms Hanson told supporters her job was to “fight for you” and accused other politicians of failing to represent ordinary Australians.
He turned his fire on the Prime Minister, blaming Mr Albanese for mass immigration and labeling him “the worst prime minister I have ever seen”.
He appealed to the crowd to support One Nation in the next federal election and said he wanted more seats in parliament so he could “take charge of them”, scrutinize government spending and push to revive manufacturing while rolling back climate policies.
Ms Hanson finished by calling for unity, telling her supporters that Australia belongs to all who choose it as home, as long as they embrace Australian values.
“All I’ve ever done is call for equality for all Australians. Bring us together, whether you were born here or immigrated,” he said.
Ms Hanson was criticized by Greens senator Larissa Waters, who accused her of dividing Australians and blowing a “racist dog whistle”.
Ms Waters, who attended a recent Invasion Day protest, said: “Pauline Hanson gets one per cent of the vote.
“He never voted to make housing more affordable, he never voted to make groceries more affordable, his votes and his words don’t align.”
But Ms Hanson dismissed Senator Waters’ criticism, telling the Green senator she “didn’t have the time” and accusing him and his party of being “divisive” and “un-Australian”.
“They disgust me. I don’t have time for them,” Ms. Hanson told NewsWire.
He rejected claims he voted for the “one per cent”, saying he had spent his political life trying to bring Australians together.
“All I’ve ever done in my political life is to bring this country back together, to say we’re all Australians together,” he said.
Ms Hanson welcomed immigrants and people born overseas who embraced Australian life, adding that pride in the country should not be criticised.
She accused her political opponents of harboring hatred and “playing the victim”, saying debates like this happened “year after year”.
“They are not Australians. There is hatred in their hearts. I feel sorry for them. It is time for them to leave,” he said.
