One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has remained unrepentant over her sit-down with British far-right figure Tommy Robinson, telling a crowd of supporters at the Perth electorate of Secret Harbour that she would decide who she speaks to.
More than 100 people turned out for Hanson's first visit to the southern Perth electorate since Luke Herdegen won the seat from Labor in a byelection triggered by the resignation of former WA minister Paul Papalia. The crowd erupted when Hanson arrived to meet Herdegen, and she told them she had no plans to step back from politics soon. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere as long as I've still got my mental ability, and I don't become like a Joe Biden," she said.
Asked by a woman from the UK town of Luton about her thoughts on Robinson, Hanson replied: “It was really interesting talking to Tommy, and he spoke common sense to me.” She said she gets a number of people saying she should meet this one or talk to that one. “I’ll decide who I talk to. The media won’t tell me who I will talk to,” she said, adding that Robinson’s experiences were “exactly what I’ve been trying to say here in Australia”. She urged people to “talk about it, debate it, so that we don’t become like Luton. And that’s what we’ll fight for.” Another person commented “ABC just got their soundbite, by the way,” drawing a roar of laughter.
Hanson sat down with Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, during a visit to Luton earlier this year, and later defended her appearance on the podcast, telling Seven’s Spotlight program: “Why wouldn’t I talk to the man?” and “That’s the first time I’ve met Tommy Robinson, and I don’t regret meeting with him.” Robinson has built a large online following campaigning against Islam and immigration. A former member of the British National Party who co-founded the English Defence League, he has convictions for assault, mortgage fraud, using a false passport and contempt of court, and was convicted earlier this week of harassing two Daily Mail journalists. He is avoided even by outspoken right-wing figures such as Nigel Farage, and his appearance on Karl Stefanovic’s podcast led Nine to axe the Today show host’s contract.
Luton, where Robinson hails from, has emerged as a focal point of the UK immigration debate because of its large migrant and Muslim population. Earlier this month, Conservative MP Blake Stephenson claimed there were "no-go zones" in the town where "white people won't go", drawing a swift rebuke from the local council leader and the police commissioner, who said the comments were "not supported by evidence".
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Hanson's defiance signals she will keep meeting controversial figures despite media criticism, and she confirmed she intends to stay in politics.
- The Secret Harbour byelection handed One Nation a new seat in WA, and Hanson's first visit there matters for how the party consolidates that win.
- The exchange links the Australian immigration debate to the UK's, with Hanson using Robinson's hometown of Luton as a cautionary example.
Background
Hanson is the founder and leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a right-wing Australian party. Tommy Robinson is a British activist with a large online following who campaigns against Islam and immigration and has a long history of convictions. The Secret Harbour seat passed from Labor to One Nation in a recent byelection.
What to Watch
- Whether Hanson's meeting with Robinson generates further fallout in Australian politics or media coverage.
- The outcome of Robinson's latest conviction for harassing the two Daily Mail journalists.
- Whether One Nation holds the Secret Harbour seat under new MP Luke Herdegen.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHanson was unrepentant about her sit-down with Robinson in Luton.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Hanson unrepentant over Robinson sit-down in first visit to Secret Harbour.”
- SupportedHanson told supporters, “I’ll decide who I talk to.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has told a crowd of supporters “I’ll decide who I talk to””
- SupportedHanson told the Secret Harbour crowd she would decide who she speaks to, rather than be told by the media.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I’ll decide who I talk to. The media won’t tell me who I will talk to.””
- SupportedMore than 100 people attended Hanson’s first visit to the southern Perth electorate since Luke Herdegen won the seat in a byelection triggered by Paul Papalia’s resignation.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “More than 100 people turned out to the event ... her first visit to the southern Perth electorate since Luke Herdegen stormed home to take the seat from Labor in a byelection triggered by the resignation of former WA minister Paul Papalia.”
- SupportedA woman from Luton asked Hanson what she thought of Robinson.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““What’s your thoughts on Tommy Robinson, bless him,” asked the woman, who hailed from the UK town of Luton”
- SupportedHanson said it was interesting talking to Robinson and that he spoke common sense to her.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““It was really interesting talking to Tommy, and he spoke common sense to me,” Hanson replied.”
- SupportedHanson said Robinson’s experiences were exactly what she had been trying to say in Australia.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Tommy’s experiences in life is exactly what I’ve been trying to say here in Australia.””
- Partly supportedRobinson is avoided even by outspoken right-wing figures such as Nigel Farage.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Robinson is a convicted criminal avoided even by the UK’s most outspoken right-wing figures such as Nigel Farage”
- SupportedRobinson’s appearance on Karl Stefanovic’s podcast led Nine to end the Today host’s contract.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “whose appearance on Karl Stefanovic’s eponymous podcast was the catalyst for Nine axing the Today show host’s lucrative contract”
- SupportedRobinson was convicted earlier this week of harassing two Daily Mail journalists.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Earlier this week, Robinson was convicted of harassing two Daily Mail journalists”
- SupportedLuton is a focal point of the UK immigration debate because of its large migrant and Muslim population.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Luton, where Robinson hails from, has emerged as a focal point of the immigration debate in the UK due to its large migrant and Muslim population.”
- SupportedBlake Stephenson claimed there were “no-go zones” in Luton where “white people won't go”, and the police commissioner said the comments were not supported by evidence.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Conservative MP Blake Stephenson claimed there were “no-go zones” in the town where “white people won’t go” ... the police commissioner, who said the comments were “not supported by evidence”.”