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

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. “Hanson’s comments are simply shameful, and are a stark example of the extreme rhetoric being directed at trans Australians,” she said. The group also 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 in her speech that opposing multiculturalism was “not racist”. The One Nation leader was accused of racist and divisive language in February, after she said there were no “good” Muslims. In 2024, Hanson was found by a judge to have engaged in racial discrimination against Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi.

Refugee groups have also called out Hanson over inflammatory comments against multiculturalism, including her claim that Australia should be “monocultural”, western values were under siege, and governments were too “frightened” to crack down on Islamic extremism. Deputy chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Jana Favero, said she was “shocked and disgusted” hearing the address, warning the language was contributing to an increase in racism in Australia. The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia chair, Peter Doukas, also said the idea of a monocultural country was a “complete fabrication”.