Hanson blames prime minister for rising threats, echoing past accusations

During an interview on one outlet radio in Perth, Pauline Hanson said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s statements have created an environment that threatens her safety, forcing her to travel with federal police protection. She referenced a 12-minute video she recorded nearly 30 years ago, intended for release if she were assassinated, and blamed political opponents for endangering her then. Albanese had recently described hard-right populists as “dangerous, divisive and dishonest” at a Queensland Labor conference, a line Hanson says fuels hostility.

Liberal MP Garth Hamilton and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland criticized Hanson, arguing her own party’s rhetoric plays a role in the heightened risk. The Australian Federal Police confirmed a more than 10-percent increase in reported threats to parliamentarians, a trend mirrored in other democracies and especially affecting women in politics.