People keep telling me that Pauline Hanson stands up for ordinary Australians.
So let’s look at the record.
Pauline Hanson and One Nation have voted against or opposed:
• Increasing JobKeeper payments during the pandemic
• Raising the Newstart/JobSeeker rate for unemployed Australians
• A Royal Commission into violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability
• Making TAFE fee-free for more Australians
• Greater funding for universities and education
• Measures aimed at improving housing affordability
• Expanding access to subsidised childcare
• Measures aimed at reducing the gender pay gap
• Stronger protections for Aboriginal heritage sites
• Increasing diversity in media ownership
• Environmental protections for forests and threatened ecosystems
• Stronger action on gambling harm
At the same time, Hanson has supported:
• Tax cuts that disproportionately benefited higher-income earners
• Expanding welfare cashless debit card programs
• Greater political intervention in research funding decisions
• Reductions in some welfare supports
Then there was the infamous attempt by One Nation figures to seek support from the US gun lobby to weaken Australia’s gun laws after Port Arthur.
So the question remains:
What has Pauline Hanson actually delivered that has improved the lives of ordinary Australians?
After nearly three decades in politics, where are the major reforms? Where are the new hospitals, schools, infrastructure projects, wage increases, housing programs or worker protections she can point to?
A lot of outrage. A lot of headlines. A lot of blame.
But very little delivered.
Australians deserve more than slogans. They deserve results.