Thousands of high school and university students again walked out of class to protest Pauline Hanson’s racism and bigotry on September 17. Rallies were held in 18 cities and towns across the country.
Students highlighted Hanson’s racist comments towards First Nations people and immigrants, her anti-LGBTIQ stance, her claim that domestic violence is a “two-way street” and her denial of the climate crisis.
Many pointed out that Hanson’s claim to be representing “ordinary Australians” is shown to be a lie because she is backed by Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, and has consistently voted against pay rises and improved workers’ rights.
Students at the rally in Gadigal Country/Sydney told Green Left they did not support the vision for the country that Hanson is putting forward. “We’re the next generation of voters and we don’t want to see people like Pauline Hanson and One Nation who spread bigotry and hate in power,” one student said.
A year 12 student said he attended the protest to oppose Hanson’s racist rhetoric, and its adoption by Labor and the Coalition. “I’m here to stand in solidarity with women, immigrants, Palestinians, Indigenous people and queer people.”
Another student said they want politicians who are “for the people and not for billionaires”. “My mum is a person of colour and we don’t want someone who’s going to be racist.”
Atlas, an 18-year-old, said he came to the rally “because I am queer and people who I care about are in danger”.
Another said: “It’s hard to think that we could grow up in a future where someone like that could be deciding what happens in Australia. I think Pauline Hanson stands for racism, and I hate racism!”
Layla, from Newtown High, said she joined the rally to “stand against a monocultural Australia”. “Australia is so much more interesting and multicultural, and to strip us of that would be to strip away everything good about this country.”
Grace Street, president of the University of Sydney Student Representative Council, told GL “high school and university students reject Hanson’s far-right politics”. “This is also a student issue — she just announced her plan to reduce the number of international students who come to the country and how many would be able to stay after they finish their degree.”
Rachel Evans, Socialist Alliance candidate for Heffron in the NSW elections in March, said it was exciting to see so many students campaigning against Hanson’s politics. “She is anti-refugee, anti-migrant, anti-trans and anti-woman, and it’s excellent to see young people start to organise.”
Another group of students told GL that Hanson’s beliefs are “destructive”. “Australia thrives off its multiculturalism and we’ll become the next laughing stock, after the US, if this continues.”
About 100 students joined the rally in Muloobinba/Newcastle. One student told GL they “don’t support what Hanson says about LGBTIQ people and people from other countries … this is a country that should be for everyone.
“She has no idea what she is doing and no idea what is right for the country or what we wants — she is totally out of touch.”
Another said Hanson was following the script of US President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” movement.
[Join the speak-out against racism and bigotry in Glebe on September 26.]
