Pauline Hanson’s post-apocalyptic prediction resurfaces
Australia will be led by a multiracial, lesbian and half-cyborg president decades from now, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has written.
The outspoken politician’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi prediction in his book The Truth claims that in 2050 the nation of “Australasia” will be led by president Poona Li Hung.
The quote, written in 1997, was revived in the Federal Court to highlight the claim that the One Nation leader was a racist as he sought to overturn a finding of racial slur.
“Ms. Hung, a lesbian, was of multiracial descent with Indian and Chinese descent and was considered the most suitable head by the World Government,” Senator Hanson wrote in her book.
“He is also part machine; the first cyborg head.”
The text was brought forward by a lawyer for Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in defense of a finding that she had been racially vilified by Senator Hanson in 2024.
“Senator Hanson’s worst nightmare for Australia was to have a lesbian, cyborg and Asian woman as president,” Senator Faruqi’s lawyer Jessie Taylor told the court.
On the day the Queen died in September 2022, the Greens senator took to Twitter, now known as X, to express his condolences to those who knew the monarch.
Senator Faruqi added that he could not mourn the passing of the leader of “a racist empire built on the stolen lives, lands and wealth of colonial peoples.”
In response, Senator Hanson said he was appalled and disgusted by the comments.
“When you immigrated to Australia you enjoyed all the advantages of this country,” he wrote.
“It’s clear you’re not happy, so pack your bags and go back to Pakistan.”
Judge Angus Stewart found In its decision dated November 2024 that immigrants of color, recently immigrated Australians or Muslims of different ethnic backgrounds in Australia will be insulted, offended, humiliated and intimidated by the tweet.
His shocking assessment of the One Nation leader’s credibility was also presented before three appeal judges on Tuesday.
“I got the distinct impression that Senator Hanson would say anything that came to his mind if he thought it would suit him at the time,” the judge wrote.
His lawyer said that meant the appeals court should not overturn the judge’s findings about the fiery politician, which included that he knew Senator Faruqi was Muslim, used the country of Pakistan as a vehicle for racism and did not act reasonably and in good faith by tweeting.
Ms Taylor said there was no doubt the Greens deputy leader’s status as a brown, Muslim, South Asian immigrant motivated Senator Hanson’s tweet.
“If someone else had tweeted ‘Go back to Pakistan’, it could have been a holiday suggestion, travel advice,” he told the court.
“This is not in the context of Senator Hanson’s tweet.”
Senator Hanson argued that the tweet would not offend or denigrate any particular group because it was aimed solely at Senator Faruqi.
But another of Senator Faruqi’s lawyers said it should be rejected because those who read a racist comment may experience racism vicariously.
Saul Holt KC also rejected claims that Twitter users are used to politicians saying things they wouldn’t normally say in person.
The three-day hearing continues.
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