Pauline Hanson, the leader of the hard-right One Nation party, says Australia “must be monocultural,” arguing against long-standing multicultural policies. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Hanson frames the country’s demographic change as contributing to social and economic problems, including housing shortages and rising rents and property prices. Multiple outlets report that she links these issues to high immigration levels and says Australia has lost parts of its identity and national values.
Sources also describe Hanson’s broader remarks as part cultural debate and part “culture-war” agenda. The Guardian reports that her address includes criticisms of Muslims and mentions topics such as Islam, transgender rights, and Australia’s public broadcasters. According to the same coverage, she proposes changes to the ABC and says SBS would be axed, while regional services would be protected. Other outlets focus on her call for assimilation into a single cultural framework, rather than multicultural coexistence.
Several reports note that her appearance drew disruption and protest activity, with some accounts describing her first National Press Club address being interrupted.
