Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, has used her maiden speech to the Australian Senate to call for a halt to all immigration, warning that Australia is “in danger of being swamped by Muslims”.
The speech, delivered on Wednesday, echoed the senator’s infamous 1996 address in which she warned of being “swamped by Asians”. Hanson said that if migrants were not prepared to assimilate and accept Australian values, “I suggest you go back to where you came from”. She added that she would “take you to the airport and wave you goodbye”.
Hanson argued that Islam was a theocracy incompatible with democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Without providing statistical evidence, she claimed Muslims were “prominent in organised crime” and that their unemployment and imprisonment rates were higher than average. She also said that no further mosques or Islamic schools should be built until security challenges passed.
Notably, the One Nation leader made no mention of Indigenous Australians – a topic she dwelled on extensively in 1996 – and instead focused on globalisation and immigration. Her speech prompted Greens senators to walk out of the chamber en masse.
Hanson also criticised high immigration and foreign investment, particularly from China, saying they placed strain on essential services and left Australia vulnerable to a foreign takeover.
