Pauline Hanson expressed her interest in talk-back radio yesterday.
During her appearance on Steve Mills’ breakfast show on 6PR 882, he inquired about her interest, and she showed considerable enthusiasm.
Hanson noted that while she had visited Perth previously, she did not consider herself a local.
Steve Mills informed her that there would be an opening for her on 6PR.
On-air, Millsy remarked that Pauline “didn’t mind having a crack”.
If she joins the radio, listeners might hear her well-known phrase ‘Please explain’ as she embarks on her potential new role as the ‘Queen of talkback radio’.
On September 10, 1996, Hanson’s inaugural speech to the House of Representatives received extensive media coverage throughout Australia.
In her initial remarks, Hanson presented herself “not as a polished politician, but as a woman who has faced her share of life’s challenges”, expressing views founded on “commonsense, drawn from my experiences as a mother of four, a sole parent, and a businesswoman managing a fish and chip shop. I won the seat of Oxley primarily over an issue that has led to accusations of racism against me. This issue centered on my assertion that Aboriginals receive more benefits than non-Aboriginals.”
She further claimed that “mainstream Australians” endure “a type of reverse racism, perpetuated by advocates of political correctness and those who administer taxpayer-funded ‘industries’ that thrive in our society catering to Aboriginals, multiculturalists, and numerous other minority groups”. This narrative continued with her contention that “current governments are promoting separatism in Australia by creating opportunities, funding, and resources available solely to Aboriginals”.
Hanson criticized Aboriginal land rights, welfare access, and reconciliation efforts among a series of issues, specifically taking aim at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, stating, “Anyone with a criminal record can, and does, occupy a position with ATSIC”. She followed this with brief discussions on family disintegration, youth unemployment, international debt, the Family Law Act, child support, and the privatization of Qantas and other national services.
The core focus of her speech revolved around an assault on immigration and the Federal Government’s multicultural policies:
| “ | Immigration and multiculturalism are matters this government aims to tackle, but for too long, major parties have excluded ordinary Australians from the discourse. I, alongside most Australians, advocate for a radical reassessment of our immigration policies and the elimination of multiculturalism. I fear we are at risk of being overwhelmed by Asians. Between 1984 and 1995, Asian migrants comprised 40% of all newcomers to this nation. They uphold their own culture and religion, create enclaves, and do not integrate. Naturally, I will face accusations of racism, but if I can decide whom to welcome into my home, I should equally have the right to influence who enters my country. A genuinely multicultural nation can never be robust or united. There are numerous failed and tragic instances worldwide, from Ireland to Bosnia to Africa, and even closer to home, Papua New Guinea. Currently, America and Great Britain are bearing the consequences. Arthur Calwell was a distinguished Australian and Labor leader; it is unfortunate there are no contemporary figures of his caliber in the opposition. Calwell remarked: Japan, India, Burma, Ceylon, and every emerging African nation are all vehemently anti-white and anti-one another. Do we desire or require any of these individuals here? I am a proud Australian who firmly says no, representing 90% of Australians. I haveHanson’s opinions were causes for considerable debate, which stemmed from her controversial inaugural speech. Media outlets and political figures paid keen attention to her statements during this time.
While some individuals perceived Hanson as straightforward and genuine, others labeled her a far-right nativist, misinformed, uneducated, or even racist. Her critics often pointed out her perceived lack of eloquence, whereas her supporters lauded that very characteristic as proof of her being a spokesperson for the public. When asked by Tracey Curro on 60 Minutes on 13 October 1996 about whether she was xenophobic, her response, “please explain?” quickly morphed into a catchphrase widely parodied in Australian culture. The response from mainstream political entities was largely unfavorable, culminating in parliament passing a resolution condemning her immigration and multiculturalism views—with the sole exception of Graeme Campbell voting differently. Conversely, Prime Minister John Howard refrained from criticizing Hanson or imposing sanctions against her, recognizing that many Australians shared her perspectives. He viewed the open expression of such opinions as indicative of a diminishing ‘pall of political correctness’ in Australia. Although Hanson consistently denied accusations of racism, the debate surrounding her views sparked significant academic interest across Australia. For instance, a paper titled ‘Phenomena and Epiphenomena: is Pauline Hanson racist?’ was presented at the 1997 annual conference of the Australian and New Zealand Communications Association (ANZCA) at La Trobe University. In 1998, Keith Suter posited that Hanson’s perspectives were better characterized as an outrage against globalisation. By August of that year, perceptions in Asia linking her popularity to racism began to influence international relations. This prompted Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs under John Howard, to issue a statement urging Hanson, David Oldfield, and David Ettridge to “disassociate themselves from the racist slurs being promoted in the Asian media by people claiming to be their closest supporters.” The University of NSW Press published a book titled Race, Colour and Identity in Australia and New Zealand in 2000, which marked Hanson as a pivotal figure in Australia’s ‘racism debate’ during the 1990s. The book noted that prominent Australian scholars like Jon Stratton, Ghassan Hage, and Andrew Jakubowicz had examined Hanson’s impact within both national and international contexts. In 2004, Hanson made an appearance on the nationally aired ABC interview program Enough Rope. Archival footage from a 60 Minutes segment Hanson faced challenges regarding derogatory remarks about Aboriginals made by her “fellow travellers.” She distanced herself from these comments, claiming that several One Nation elected candidates were “radicals that tagged themselves to me.” Additionally, she expressed that her knowledge of her autobiography Pauline Nation’s ‘The Truth’ and its contents was limited. In 2006, a decade after her maiden speech, its repercussions continued to be discussed within a framework of racism and were included in resources funded by the Queensland Government aimed at ‘Combating racism in Queensland’. In December 2006, The Age reported that Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, referred to Hanson as a “bloodsucker” in reaction to her suggestion that Africans were bringing AIDS into Australia. Furthermore, she expressed her concern about how easily individuals could obtain Australian citizenship, particularly Muslims and Africans. Hanson made assertions like, “You can’t have schools not sing Christmas carols because it upsets others.” To be fair, this has now become the norm in the UK.
Regarding African immigration, Hanson asked, “Do you want to see your daughter or a family member end up with AIDS or anyone for that matter?” While she may or may not have valid points to raise about immigrants, she is certainly a fascinating character. I suggest bringing her to Perth…put her on the radio…it won’t be dull. by Sel Hurst
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filmed in Ipswich was utilized to support claims regarding racism and bigotry in her viewpoints. Hanson challenged interviewer Andrew Denton to present specific instances of her racism. Instead, Denton highlighted an abusive letter sent to an Asian girl following her speeches. The contents ofwhich featured a racist tirade stating, “You are nothing but an ungrateful, treacherous, yellow slanty-eyed little Vietnamese whore. You have… We have had enough of your lot with their drug peddling and crime. So piss off now”.
