Hanson defies protest to call for ‘monocultural’ nation
A mid-speech protest has marred Pauline Hanson’s first address to the National Press Club after decades in politics.
Pauline Hanson has called for a “monocultural” Australia as a protest crashed her first address to the National Press Club.
The One Nation leader also promised to boost regulation of AI, scrap SBS and make the ABC a subscription service in major cities as part of her wide-ranging speech.
She vowed to introduce nuclear energy into the national grid under a One Nation government, while also labelling segments of Islam a “social cancer”.
But the speech was interrupted by a sign being lowered onto the stage that read: “I opposed a pay rise to workers”.
Attendants quickly tore it down and allowed Senator Hanson to continue.
With One Nation rising in opinion polls to lead the major parties on primary votes, the firebrand senator said growing voter discontent with the status quo was behind the shift in the political landscape.
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“Many people feel that they can’t indulge that essential Australian characteristic of speaking out and speaking up because the risk of speaking out is simply too great,” she said in the address.
“They feel demonised and condescended. They’re mad as hell about it.
“It’s as good an explanation as any for the earthquake that is changing the political landscape in Australia.
“After years of hoping for something different from the political class but getting nowhere, many Australians are looking elsewhere. I am a known quantity for these Australians.”
The speech, which attracted dozens of protesters outside the building, was the first time in her 30-year career in federal politics she made an address to the press club.
Senator Hanson used the speech to label multiculturalism a failed policy.
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“We are a multiracial society, but we must be monocultural,” she said.
“Australians must live under the one cultural umbrella. Do Australians feel that the nation is losing its identity along with its values? We all know the answer to that.”
The One Nation leader said her government would get rid of SBS, saying the internet had overtaken the need for it.
The ABC would still exist but only with taxpayer funds going to keep regional operations going.
“In the cities, which are already saturated with media outlets across the political spectrum, the ABC will only be a subscription service,” she said.
Concerns over artificial intelligence also featured in the speech as the senator warned governments should not leave the industry to self-regulate.
“If AI is to be successfully deployed, public trust is a pre-requisite,” she said.
Dozens of demonstrators shouting “Pauline Hanson go to hell” gathered outside the Canberra venue before the speech.
As One Nation senators began arriving at the venue, about 40 protesters brandishing placards reading ”Canberra says no to Hanson”, ”reject racism” and ”One Nation serves the billionaires” began chanting.
”Black, Indigenous, Arab nation and white – unite, unite, unite to fight the right,” they yelled.
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