Australian students stage nationwide walkout to protest Pauline Hanson’s rise
Thousands of high school pupils across Australia are joining university union rallies on Thursday to denounce Pauline Hanson and her party’s policies.
On Thursday afternoon, high school students across Australia are set to join coordinated protests organized by the National Union of Students, aligning with university union actions in every major city and several regional locations. The rallies, branded with slogans like “Say No to Pauline Hanson,” aim to challenge what organizers describe as racist and far-right policies, with union general secretary Akash Nagarajan highlighting Hanson’s opposition to free TAFE and public-school funding.
A recent Roy Morgan poll shows One Nation’s primary vote at 26%, prompting Hanson to reply on social media that students should instead protest the cost-of-living crisis and blame the Labor-Greens government. Government officials, including education minister Jason Clare and Victorian premier Ben Carroll, urged students not to miss classes, but many, such as Melbourne’s Jules Arpula, insist the protest is more important than attending school.
One Nation’s Victorian MP Rickie-Lee Tyrrell denied any racist intent, pointing to the party’s diverse membership. Political analyst Benjamin Moffitt described walkouts as an effective way for young, non-voting Australians to influence the political conversation.
Why it matters
The protest shows growing youth opposition to a right-wing party gaining significant electoral support.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage emphasizes the walkout as a stand against Hanson’s alleged racist, far-right policies, while centrist coverage focuses on the on-the-ground rally details, police actions and Hanson’s condemnation.
LEFT
Frames the walkout as a fight against Hanson’s alleged racist, far-right agenda and her opposition to free TAFE and public-school funding.
CENTER
Frames the event as a student rally against One Nation and Hanson, highlighting banners, effigies, police removal of supporters and Hanson’s social-media rebuke.
The left emphasises
- protest aims to challenge ‘racist and far-right policies’
- slogans such as “Say No to Pauline Hanson”
- One Nation’s primary vote at 26% in a recent poll
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