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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Pauline Hanson's London speech draws sparse crowd, criticizes Australia's direction

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • One Nation leader Pauline Hanson delivered a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in London to a sparsely attended audience.
  • Hanson criticized Australia's immigration levels and environmental policies, stating the country had "gone woke."
  • The trip also included attending a fashion show and meeting political figures, with questions raised about the funding of personal expenses.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson concluded her trip to Britain and Europe with a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in London that drew a small audience. Fewer than a quarter of the seats were filled in the Arora Ballroom of the InterContinental Hotel for her address, titled "The Australian Fight Back."

We're so stupid over there.

— Pauline HansonDuring her speech at the CPAC conference in London, criticizing Australia's policies.

During her speech, Senator Hanson, 72, criticized Australia's immigration policies and what she described as excessive prioritization of environmental policies. "We're so stupid over there," she told the attendees, adding that Australia was "about five to 10 years behind England, in where we are headed."

Senator Hanson, who has been in the UK and Europe for nearly two weeks on what she called a "fact-finding mission," also expressed dissatisfaction with London, citing its multicultural communities as a concern. She vowed to continue her political fight, stating, "I'm not going to allow it to happen."

I'm not going to allow it to happen. I'm going to keep fighting this.

— Pauline HansonResponding to the direction she believes Australia is heading.

The trip also included a visit to a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sicily with Gina Rinehart, and poolside relaxation at a luxury hotel. Senator Hanson declined to disclose who funded these personal expenses, though she stated on social media that taxpayers bore no cost. Her office confirmed that all taxpayer-funded travel would be publicly disclosed.

London, no thank you.

— Pauline HansonExpressing her opinion on the British capital.

During her time in the UK, Hanson met with Holly Vallance and former British Prime Minister Liz Truss. However, her decision to record a podcast with Tommy Robinson, a controversial activist with a criminal record, drew criticism.

Australia was 'about five to 10 years behind England, in where we are headed'.

— Pauline HansonComparing the trajectory of Australia and the UK.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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