After ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas voiced concerns that One Nation’s historic by-election victory “legitimised” and “normalised” the party, Pauline Hanson took offence.
Karvelas specifically criticised the Coalition’s choice to give One Nation’s David Farley priority over Independent Michelle Milthorpe during the national broadcaster’s coverage of the Farrer election night.
Before the outcome was announced, Karvelas stated, “If they are able to win their first lower house seat, that begins the process of legitimising them. In other electorates where they may run, voters [will think], well, it’s happened before, it’s normal now.” You begin to normalise things.
Hanson responded sharply to her comments, criticising the ABC and other media after the outcome and defending her party’s mandate.
Farley received just less than 40% of the primary vote, while the Liberal Party’s share plummeted to just 12.4%, compared to 43% for former MP and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley in 2025.
“With nearly 60% of the two-party preferred vote in a democratic election, One Nation won the seat of Farrer,” Hanson wrote on X.
“Last night, One Nation was implied to be an illegitimate political party by the ABC, our $1 billion annual taxpayer-funded national broadcaster.”
One Nation was being “legitimised” by its Farrer triumph, according to Patricia Karvelas (pictured).
Hanson (above) said that her fans were diverse and that her detractors were “in denial.”Hanson also slammed ABC’s Insiders program, claiming that panellists characterised One Nation as “at its core…a racist and bigoted” party. “These people don’t get it,” she added, adding that the “impartial” ABC refused to refute or even discuss the assertion. We live in a democracy where the people of Australia alone determine who is “legitimate” and deserving of serving as their representative in Parliament.
She responded to additional criticism from the media, such as a piece in the Sydney Morning Herald titled “Australia teeters on the brink of a populist uprising led by a long-time racist.”
“They’re in denial actually—that’s all they can do, is throw the barbs and say I’m a racist,” Hanson said in an interview with Sky News on Sunday, refuting charges made against her and her party.
Hanson maintained that a broad spectrum of Australian society was represented in her base of support.
On Saturday, David Farley (right) won the Farrer seat, handily defeating the Liberals.
“Pauline, we support you because we don’t want this country to become like the country that we left,” she added. “A lot of the people around me are actually migrants and people of all different cultural backgrounds… we look past that because they’re so proud to be Australians.”
“They’re not picking up my message, they’re bitter, bitter people, they really are,” she said, accusing her detractors of acting out of resentment and pursuing their own goals. She remarked, “I’m pushing that to one side; I’m not interested in that.”
Hanson stated that she continued to prioritise the future of her party and her followers.
“My goal, my focus is on the people out there, and I’ll keep working hard for them and with my team,” she remarked. “I have too many people out there who have supported and backed me all the way, and I appreciate that.”
She also commended the party’s recently elected MP and projected the party’s longevity.
“They won’t last long,” people remark. Hanson declared, “I’m telling you now, we’re going to be here for the long haul. David Farley is going to be a great representative on the floor of parliament with Barnaby Joyce.”
