BY RITA PANAHI for the HERALD SUN
CANBERRA, ACT. —Pauline Hanson nailed her address at the National Press Club on Wednesday as a new poll revealed the majority of Australians believe One Nation is ready to govern.
Facing a hostile audience, Hanson articulated her party’s vision for Australia, outlining policy positions on housing, immigration and productivity, alongside key cultural issues ranging from radical trans-activism to the Islamist threat.
It was ideologically clear and unapologetic – the sort of speech conservative voters have for years wanted to hear from a Liberal leader.
This wasn’t a leader worried about offending the media or political class; indeed, she declared war on both, announcing any government she leads would abolish SBS and make dramatic cuts to the bloated ABC.
Her message to the media was clear: you can criticise and scrutinise, but activism masquerading as journalism would be called out. “I’m an elected representative, and I should be scrutinised; that doesn’t give you the licence to pile on … (and) delegitimise my party,” she said.
“It doesn’t give you a licence to continue to repeat the lie that we are a racist party – because that is untrue.
“The Australian people can make up their own mind and they are.
“Rest assured, there will be big changes if one Nation is given the chance. SBS will be gone, there’s no need for it anymore, the internet has overtaken the need for it.”
Hanson also hit back at Leftist activist reporter Sarah Martin who she labelled “trashy,” accusing the Guardian writer of publishing “lies”.
Similarly, her exchange with SBS reporter Anna Henderson was robust, with Hanson telling the network’s chief political correspondent: “You’re going to be without a job.” When Henderson claimed that SBS’s foreign language services were needed to help migrants “integrate into Australia”, Hanson responded with “I want them to be able to learn English … that will help assimilate into our society.” It’s a sound argument that will have widespread appeal.
Hanson understands that most of the media, whether taxpayer-funded or not, are not her friends. Nor do they understand why she has surged in the polls. They have contempt for her, her party and her supporters.
It’s the same disdain the political establishment has for much of the population, a theme Hanson touched on in her speech. “Two years ago, I tried to secure a national plebiscite on immigration numbers. As usual, most of the Senate dismissed the notion of giving Australians a direct say on policy and voted it down,” she said.
“During the debate, I … remember Coalition senator Paul Scarr saying the issue was too complex to put to the Australian people.
“That disgusting comment says all you need to know about the political establishment’s contempt for the Australian people, contempt for their intelligence and contempt for the very concept of listening to them. I’m always listening, and that’s why my policy to slash immigration reflects what most Australians want.”
What was most impressive was the manner in which Hanson handled media questioning. It’s little wonder the latest Sky News Pulse/YouGov survey found that 50 per cent of voters believe One Nation is ready to govern today, with 33 per cent saying the party will be ready by 2028.
Stunt Backfires
GetUp! has serious questions to answer after a stunt designed to damage Pauline Hanson ended up embarrassing the National Press Club and led to the Leftist activist group being referred for investigation to the Australian Federal Police.
During Hanson’s speech, a large banner was unfurled behind her in a shocking security breach. In a statement, the Press Club apologised to Hanson and confirmed it would explore legal options to seek damages from GetUp! once the AFP investigation is concluded. “We have referred the relevant footage and other evidence to the AFP for further investigation,” the statement read.
“The organisation GetUp! is claiming credit for the stunt. The GetUp! representative at the address was David Sharaz. At time of writing, we understand he is yet to be interviewed by the AFP.”
Barnaby Joyce also condemned the stunt: “It’s so dangerous when you think about it, they got in there and managed to rig up a sign and had the capacity to lower it. What if it was a bomb?”
The incident must be one of the dumbest acts of political sabotage imaginable – GetUp! only succeeded in making Hanson look calm under pressure while exposing the organisation to criminal investigation.
Rita Panahi never discloses in her opinion articles that she herself is an immigrant who was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States, the child of Iranian parents who’d immigrated to America. Panahi later came to Australia as a refugee.
VicNews in no way supports Panahi’s words. The article is republished in the public interest so the public can see what the Murdoch press and Sky News are “reporting.”
“Hanson lays down law in feisty press club address,” Herald Sun, Thursday, June 18, 2026, p.25.
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