Pauline Hanson branded hypocrite over violence claims as politicians across the spectrum hit back
Politicians from across the ideological divide have labelled Pauline Hanson a hypocrite after the One Nation leader accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior Labor figures of inciting violence against her and her supporters, with critics urging her to examine her own rhetoric and the extremist elements linked to her party.
OPINION & VOICES
The spark: Albanese’s “dangerous” remark and Hanson’s incitement claim
The dispute escalated after a weekend speech at the Queensland Labor conference where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attacked right‑wing populists for “peddling dangerous, divisive and dishonest” politics, a line that Hanson said “crossed a line” and amounted to incitement. Hanson argued that telling Australians their democratically elected opponents are “dangerous” and a “threat to our country” invites people to treat them as a threat, adding “words have consequences” and referencing the murder of British MP Jo Cox (often mistakenly cited by Hanson as “Ann Widdecombe” in past commentary) as an example of how political violence can be encouraged. She said she completely supported free speech but drew the line at “normalising and encouraging potential incitement to violence”.
Hanson also claimed the temperature of political discourse had been raised by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and other Labor figures, accusing them of “pouring petrol” on inflamed debate while publicly calling for civility. In social media posts she wrote that “millions of Australians support One Nation” and insisted they were “not extremists” and “not dangerous”, demanding that ministers stop using language that encourages others to treat One Nation supporters as a threat.
Labor and the teachers’ union push back: “Look in the mirror”
Attorney‑General Michelle Rowland responded by urging Hanson to reflect on her own behaviour and ideology, suggesting the senator consider whether her party’s engagement with extremist ideas and figures was fuelling the hostility she now condemns. Rowland’s comments landed as one of the government’s most senior women told Hanson to “look in the mirror” before assigning blame, framing the exchange as a contest over who bears responsibility for the temperature of Australian politics.
Hanson reacted furiously, demanding Rowland immediately retract her comments and apologise for what she called “slandering One Nation and its supporters while appearing to excuse the violent threats directed against them”. “No minister, especially the Attorney‑General and first law officer of the country, should suggest there is any justification for threats against Australians because of the political party they support,” Hanson posted on X.
The national teachers’ union also weighed in, describing Hanson’s assertions that the education sector had sparked violence against her as “baseless and ignorant”. Hanson had earlier claimed that “incitement” was occurring through “our educational institutions and a Prime Minister who should know better”, insisting Albanese must take full accountability for threats made against her.
Cross‑bench and coalition voices call out “victim politics”
Greens senator Sarah Hanson‑Young delivered one of the sharpest rebukes, calling Hanson’s stance “the most transparent political maneuver to act one way and then accuse others of the same”. “This is a woman who has spent her entire career vilifying others, spreading hate, and then has the audacity to call for civility,” Hanson‑Young said.
Liberal backbencher Garth Hamilton echoed the hypocrisy charge, telling the ABC there was “a little bit of hypocrisy at play here in this constant game of, ‘I am the victim’”, before listing controversial remarks associated with One Nation and noting the party had by its own admission been infiltrated by extremists. Hamilton added that “hypocrisy should be called hypocrisy, and that’s what this is”.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor declined to “get into commentary on these things” when asked about the escalating dispute, but suggested the Prime Minister was a hypocrite for repeatedly urging people to “turn down the temperature” and then turning it up himself. Analysts noted that while Albanese’s language fell “way short of an incitement to violence” on any reasonable interpretation, Hanson’s attempt to pin security threats on routine political rhetoric risked the impression she was using a serious issue to score political points.
Security threats, past controversies and the “populism 101” frame
The row unfolded as Hanson revealed she had been receiving “that many death threats … it never happened in a country like this before”, and as her security detail was significantly augmented following recent by‑election tensions in Western Australia. ABC reporting noted Hanson’s long history of framing threats against her as the consequence of opponents’ rhetoric, including a notorious 12‑minute video in which she opened with “Fellow Australians, if you are seeing me now, it means I have been murdered”, later blaming political opponents for putting her in danger.
Media coverage framed the episode as “Populism 101”, highlighting how Hanson’s strategy blends victimhood claims with accusations that mainstream politicians are normalising hostility toward her movement, even as critics argue her own rhetoric and associations help create the environment she condemns. The result is a bitter, multi‑sided dispute over responsibility for political violence, the limits of legitimate criticism of populist parties, and whether Hanson’s complaints represent a genuine security concern or a calculated political tactic.
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