Pauline Hanson’s speech ‘shameful’ and echoed ‘rubbish’ from rightwing figures in UK and US, critics say

Refugee groups have called out Pauline Hanson over inflammatory comments against multiculturalism, including her claim that Australia should be ‘monocultural’. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Refugee groups have called out Pauline Hanson over inflammatory comments against multiculturalism, including her claim that Australia should be ‘monocultural’. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images Pauline Hanson’s speech ‘shameful’ and echoed ‘rubbish’ from rightwing figures in UK and US, critics say Labor minister says Australians would lose their jobs and wages would go down if One Nation’s policies became law Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Pauline Hanson has been roundly condemned for her National Press Club speech, with advocacy groups accusing the One Nation leader of using “hatred for political gain” while the Greens say Hanson is echoing “rubbish” lines from rightwing figures in the UK and US. In Hanson’s first address after 20 years in politics, the leader claimed transgender ideology “has penetrated almost every regulatory authority”. Hanson also claimed without evidence that schoolchildren were having dangerous ideology “imposed” on them, and likened trans awareness to militant Islam. Equality Australia’s legal director, Heather Corkhill, said the language used could make trans people greater targets for hate and violence. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Pauline Hanson makes clear what a One Nation government would be like – it’s an ugly picture Read more “Hanson’s comments are simply shameful, and are a stark example of the extreme rhetoric being directed at trans Australians,” she said. “At a time when we are seeing an alarming rise in often violent, targeted attacks against LGBTIQ+ people, Hanson has taken her opportunity to accelerate this hatred for political gain. “This is a bald attempt to turn a small and vulnerable minority into a political scapegoat.” The group said polling for Equality Australia by Redbridge Group in March 2025 found 81% of Australians agreed or strongly agreed that trans people deserve the same rights and protections as other Australians. Hanson said she did not believe transwomen should be allowed in women’s sports and promised to sack the sex discrimination commissioner, Anna Cody. “Almost every instrument of government [is] dedicated to a transgender ideology which seeks to redefine humanity,” Hanson claimed. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the speech “deplorable” and accused Hanson of attacking half the country with her comments against Australians born overseas or whose parent was born overseas. “Pauline Hanson said herself today she has not changed, and boy didn’t we see that same old hate, that same old fear and same old racism,” Hanson-Young said. “Pauline Hanson is deplorable, she’s nasty, she’s got no new ideas, and she’s just trumpeting the same old rubbish we’re