Hanson Denies White Australia Policy Support After Podcast Row

Pauline Hanson has flatly rejected accusations that she wants to resurrect the White Australia policy, insisting she has never advocated for it and does not believe in it — even as critics point to her own words on a UK far-right podcast as evidence to the contrary.

The One Nation leader came under sustained fire this week after comments she made on the podcast of convicted UK activist Tommy Robinson, which were also aired on 7News Spotlight. In that interview, Hanson appeared to trace Australia's current migration problems back to the dismantling of the White Australia policy under Gough Whitlam in 1973.

"They opened up and got rid of the White Australia policy, then they started bringing in the different migrants," Hanson said in the recording. "A lot of people come into Australia purely for the welfare system."

The remarks drew sharp condemnation from Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, who told Sunrise she watched the Spotlight interview and said Hanson's position was unambiguous. "She very clearly said that the problem started after we got rid of the White Australia policy," Plibersek said. "And she also backed mass deportation and said all of her members of parliament support her in that call."

Plibersek rejected Hanson's subsequent denials, comparing the backtracking to a child caught misbehaving. "Whenever she gets challenged on what she's actually said — that we've all seen and all heard — she says, 'No, no, never said it,'" Plibersek said. "It's like watching a toddler do something wrong in front of you and then say it wasn't me."

The minister also accused Hanson of contradicting her own record on a range of issues, including paid parental leave, workers' pay and job security. "This is a woman who will say anything and then, when it is challenged, wants to stick her head in the sand," Plibersek said, adding that Hanson was "palling around with convicted criminals" and "trashing Australia overseas."

Deputy Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, also appearing on the program, sought to draw a distinction between acknowledging the policy's historical winding-down and endorsing it. "We don't support the White Australia policy — let's get that completely clear," Joyce said. He argued that the concern was not about race but about cultural assimilation, warning that Australia should not follow the path of countries like the United Kingdom, where he said social divisions had deepened over time.

"What we need is people to come to our nation and work within the Australian guardrails," Joyce said. "That is the culture we want to live within."

When pressed on Hanson's expressed enthusiasm for mass deportations, Joyce said the policy would apply to illegal immigrants. The host noted there are roughly 75,000 people in Australia on expired visas, raising questions about the practicalities of any such scheme.

The episode has reignited debate over the influence of overseas far-right figures on Australian political discourse, with critics arguing that Hanson's appearance on Tommy Robinson's platform lends credibility to extremist voices.