Pauline Hanson's first-ever appearance at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday was always destined to be a political 'moment.' The 90-minute performance, including a question-and-answer session, did not disappoint as theatre, but it shocked and appalled many. Some were left scratching their heads about how Australian politics has reached this point, with Hanson scaling political heights in polls and votes. However, observers noted that Australia is merely following global trends.
Defiant Performance
If the outing could be summed up in one word, it would be defiant. Hanson's resentment at being written off, derided, and treated discourteously by the media and other politicians over the years was on full display. 'Every attempt has been made for years to silence me,' she said. 'In fact, there are always some people, usually a lot of people, who get offended by what I say or do, even offended by my very existence.'
Hanson played the event on her terms, launching personal attacks on journalists and media organisations. She targeted a Guardian journalist who wrote investigative pieces about One Nation and asked about her daughter Lee Hanson. She pledged to scrap SBS and mostly defund the ABC, turning it into a subscription service. She also declared selective bans on media organisations and joked about the Nine Network after a reporter was impertinent to her in Perth.
Media Under Scrutiny
The media were careful during the event, but that did not protect them from Hanson's jibes. They knew they were under the spotlight. National Press Club officials were beside themselves when a giant anti-Hanson screen rolled down at the back of the stage. No one could recall such an incident happening before. The incident could only help Hanson, but she sounded shaky for a couple of minutes as she pressed on with her speech.
The Press Club later issued a statement: 'We have referred the relevant footage and other evidence to the AFP for further investigation.' The organisation GetUp! claimed credit for the stunt. David Sharaz, husband of Brittany Higgins, was present and filmed the incident on his phone. At the time of writing, he had not yet been interviewed by the AFP. It appeared that two persons entered the club building without permission and installed a separate drop-down screen. A further person present during the address activated a remote device to trigger the banner's unfurling. Sharaz left abruptly after the banner lowered.
Policy and Controversy
Hanson's speech ran overtime and jumped around, appearing cobbled together. She missed the opportunity to announce new policy. She reiterated well-known positions, including denouncing radical Islam: 'I will not hesitate to call it out for being incompatible with Australian values and our way of life.' She rejected multiculturalism, saying, 'We are a multiracial society, but we must be monocultural. Australians must live under the one cultural umbrella.'
She said she would abolish a swathe of government agencies and departments. She would sack the head of the Human Rights Commission and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner. She launched a massive attack on the 'transgender insurgency,' claiming, 'The transgender ideology has penetrated almost every regulatory authority.'
Hanson does not back down on claims even when short on facts. When pressed to provide evidence for her statement that the late Tim Fischer called her a witch who should be burned at the stake, she simply said, 'It was definitely written in the newspaper,' even though Fischer's biographer Peter Rees could not find it.
Lack of Policy Details
One Nation lacks a lot of policy, but Hanson won't be rushed. On tax, she wants to talk to experts before deciding. On child care, which is 'completely out of control,' she wants 'a complete investigation into where the money is going.' She was careful not to attack the Reserve Bank when given the opportunity.
Appeal to Disaffected Voters
What would disaffected voters flocking to Hanson make of her performance? They will mostly get snippets, perhaps curated through her slick social media. They seem to have made up their minds about her. These supporters are likely to empathise with her sentiments: '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. They feel demonised and condescended, and they're mad as hell about it.'
This is as good an explanation as any for the earthquake changing the political landscape in Australia and other countries. Pauline Hanson, now a political insider, drums up support by convincing many alienated Australians they are 'outsiders' and that, at heart, she is one too.
