Denis Muller, writing for The Conversation, argues that the media's reaction to One Nation's anti-democratic behaviour 'shows wilful blindness to what is happening in the United States and suggests a complacency that it can’t happen here'. The day before the Farrer byelection on 9 May, One Nation apparatchiks banned the ABC from its election-eve press conference. Thirteen days later, a Guardian Australia journalist was told to 'shut up' during a press conference in Adelaide, with Hanson later describing the journalist as a 'nasty bitch'. Additionally, at the Nepean byelection in Victoria, One Nation candidate Darren Hercus refused to speak to the ABC, citing bias.
Media's supine response
Muller criticises the media industry for its 'supine' and 'shameful abrogation' of its obligation to defend press freedom. In Farrer, other journalists watched as ABC reporters were ejected. No public condemnation has come from industry or professional leaders. This mirrors Donald Trump's playbook in the US, where a far-right populist leader brands media as 'the enemy of the people' and undermines public trust.
Hanson's history with the ABC
Hanson has targeted the ABC for years. In 2017, she made a deal with Malcolm Turnbull's government: an inquiry into the ABC in exchange for support on media ownership law changes. This was a stunt to divert resources and generate negative headlines. The proximate cause of her recent wrath was an ABC story revealing a One Nation candidate was wanted for questioning in the UK over sexual touching allegations. Hanson's chief of staff, James Ashby, ejected two ABC journalists from a press conference, saying 'Bye, bye to the ABC'.
Despite this, there has been no condemnation from ABC editor-in-chief Hugh Marks, chair Kim Williams, or major newspapers. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has remained silent. Only ABC's Media Watch program, presented by Linton Besser, described One Nation's attitude as 'ugly' and warned that slurs about 'fake news' and 'the enemy of the people' could be hurled at others.
Media focus on One Nation's success
Instead of defending press freedom, the media has been consumed by One Nation's historic victory and potential gains. Hanson is portrayed heroically: the Nine papers quote the London Telegraph calling her 'Australia’s flame-haired answer to Farage'. She is also characterised as 'mother duck'. The Australian says 'the shake-up is just starting', while the Age and Sydney Morning Herald capture the electorate's mood: 'Voters tell Canberra: “Get stuffed”'.
Muller acknowledges the significance of One Nation's results but warns that ignoring anti-democratic behaviour shows wilful blindness to US events and complacency that 'it can’t happen here'. He references Sinclair Lewis's 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here, which predicted Trump-like actions. The exclusion of the ABC from a press conference may seem small, but it reflects a larger principle about the functioning of Australian democracy. The media must defend this principle.
