Pauline Hanson on her fact-finding mission in the UK

Pauline Hanson goes global.

I don't want Australia to become like Britain has.

And my message to you is, don't wait.Spotlight is there as she meets the darlings and the delinquents...

It's my town.You're racist.Where are you from?

..of the UK's far right.This is the fake stream media.

I'm asking you.This is exactly the fake stream media.

Just answer the question...how her new British allies reshape her agenda for Australia.They need to go home.

This concept of mass deportation.

Oh, I love it.

But has her visit ruffled feathers back home?

I don't believe Islam is a disease.And the door opens.Queensland Senator comes face to face with Muslim Australians.

Would you ever wear a bikini to the beach?

None.Can Pauline Hanson maintain the momentum and go all the way?

This is a chess game that we're playing at the moment, and it's a hell of a chess game.But at the end of it, I want One Nation to win out of this, because if we can win, the people will win.

Pauline Hanson riding high in the Australian polls and now greeted as a major figure on the world stage.Good evening and welcome to Spotlight.I'm Michael Usher.Tonight in a Spotlight exclusive...Liam Bartlett joined Senator Hanson on her fact -finding mission to the United Kingdom, meeting some of the country's most vocal and confronting far -right figures.It is a wild ride, and as we reveal, her British tour has not only confirmed her views, it's made her more hardline than ever.

I am not a racist person.All I'm asking for is equality for all.

Senator Pauline Hanson.

We cannot be a multicultural society.

To ridicule that community is an appalling thing to do.

We are a multiracial society.We must be monocultural.

Senator.Since almost coining a new word for hard right politics, Pauline Hanson has avoided major interviews.

I'm getting a little bit dry in the mouth.

Here in a London hotel, that's about to change.

You ready?

Ready for the onslaught, yeah.

Who said it was going to be an onslaught?

Oh, come on.I've been doing this for a long time.

For all those years, you've been called all sorts of things.All names under the sun.A racist.

Yeah.

And worse.

Senator Hanson's hateful and shallow pageantry tears at our social fabric.

So what drives that single -minded determination?

I think having the passion for my country and who I am as an Australian.

But I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that patriotism, if I can dress it up like that, it's almost a cliche, isn't it?

I don't care what people say.That's who I am.Yes, I've had everything thrown at me over the years because I've stood my ground on many issues.But it's still at the end of the day.I have to be true to myself, but also true to the people out there who are expecting me to make the right decisions for them and their future generations.

Is it worth it?

Bloody oath it's worth it.Have a look at the state of this nation.Because people have sat back too long to say, shall we write mate?And that's why we're in the situation that we are now.Shall we write mate is not that way anymore.

Do you regret using the word monoculture?

Oh God, no.

But Senator, monoculture is one culture.But do you agree?It sounds like my way or the highway.

You know what?I see people.I'm not out there dragging them to come to Australia.They choose to come to Australia.Why do you think they choose to come to Australia?

Because it's the best country with one nation's polling numbers still threatening the government.Pauline Hanson has come on what she calls a fact finding mission in the mother country.And she's invited us along.It begins in the country manor of former Neighbours star Holly Vallance.with her Rupert Lowe, leader of Britain's anti -immigration Restore Britain party.

Pauline, I'm going to give you a kiss goodbye.You just take your time.Kenny's here on site.Everyone will look after you.Thank you.

The Fleet Street media calls Holly radical right royalty.She says she's been a Pauline fan since she was 14.It feels very much like we've dropped in on a family gathering.

I'm sorry I have to leave in the middle of it.I've just got to be back in London in two hours.Bye.

Bye, friend.

And I was in America.I did Joe Rogan.I was in Austin on Friday to...I got back there yesterday morning.Well, Pauline is about to do Tommy Robbins.He's my cat.

Are you?You see, again, Tommy, I talked to Tommy.He's not a bad guy.

I've never met him.

He's not a bad guy, but the stage is petrified.All right, let's have a discussion.

Go off the rail.Let's grab a seat.Let's have a chat.But before we get too comfortable...You want me there?Yeah, that's good.

..a taste of Rupert Lowe's politics.

Our Rape Gang Inquirer report will be released in the coming days.It will change Britain for good.

particularly his campaign against what he claims are Pakistani rape gangs operating in Britain.

How many known foreign rapists per town, per region?Will they publish a breakdown of the immigration status of those involved?

What is the issue that's driving your success, your current success?What's the one?Is it multiculturalism?

It's immigration.It's the fact that our country has the high -trust society that we had,has been destroyed.And our rape gang report, I think, is worth reading because it goes into all the reasons why we've had these rape gangs, which our establishment has clearly turned a blind eye to.

So are you actually talking about Islam itself and the ideology of it?Islam is a big problem.Well that's why I'm standing up and speaking out against it because I don't want Australia to become like Britain has.

It's great that you're doing it because the sooner you stop it the better.It's just wrong.

How aware are you of what you're doing?Senator Hanson's been doing and the rise of her One Nation Party.

Well, I've been watching and hopefully you will form the next Australian government, which would be great.

All very chummy, but it's worth remembering that the man opposite us allows members of British fascist organisations into the ranks of his party.It's something I ask him about separately.

OK, we're all rolling when you're ready.

So if people are, say, associated with nationalist groups or organisations that have been linked to white supremacy groups and they wanted to be a member of Restore Britain, what would you say?

Well, we've got members whose views we don't entirely agree with, but they're free to join us and part with £20, which is what it costs to join Restore Britain, online.

What do you see in someone like Pauline Hanson and her relative success so far?

Well, I think like a lot of Anglo -Saxon countries, she's obviously offering a common -sense solution, which I think we've lost sight in most of our countries, particularly here.

I notice you use that expression quite often, Anglo -Saxon.Yeah.A lot of people could interpret that as almost, if you'll pardon the expression, white supremacy.

I don't think it's a case of white supremacy.But in this day and age, as you agree, words are just so important, aren't they?And when people hear someone talking about Anglo -Saxons all the time...Well, we just say we don't care anymore.We've had enough of all that nonsense.So, you know, people can say what they want.

We don't care.

You know, so what?How's that?But the man Pauline really came to the UK to see isn't Rupert.

I thought about it hard and I've decided today, today I will resign as a Member of Parliament for Clacton -on -Sea.

The senator was supposed to meet the king of the alternative parties here in the UK, Nigel Farage, from Reform.But Mr Farage has been inexplicably caught up in a scandal of his own doing with allegations that he has not declared about five million pounds in donations.

This will be a people versus the establishment by -election.It's a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment, to frankly tell them where to go.

On top of that, of course, there are other people who are also involved, including the deputy that he sent along today to meet Senator Hanson, Robert Jenrick, who's the Treasury spokesman for reform.He's now being investigated also for undisclosed donations.But come and have a listen to what he's got to say to Senator Hanson.Mr. Jenrick, how are you?Hi, how are you?Very nice to see you.

Nice to meet you.Welcome.Nice to meet you.Well, we haven't got Nigel Farage, Senator, but you've got the next best thing.Well, Nigel sends his apologies, but he's a little bit busy today.Mr Jenrick was a member of the Tories, serving as immigration minister.

We cannot risk becoming a magnet for the millions of people who are displaced and seeking better economic prospects.

He defected to reform earlier this year.

I'm going to ask you a couple of questions, right?You were in the parliament as the immigration minister, weren't you?Yes.For 13 months?

That's right.

Do you take responsibility for this?The high intake of migrants?

No, I have apologised for that.I think the record of the last Conservative government was absolutely terrible.Do you take responsibility for that?Yes, I take responsibility for my part in it 100%.I walked through the door of the Home Office, our immigration department, and it was a total bin fire.Everything was out of control.

The government had created a system where there were no rules.

He's chosen the location for this meeting.Why have you chosen here at Tower Hamlets in London to sort of show and tell for Senator Hanson?

Well, look, this is what we would call in the UK a rotten borough.This is a borough where everything in politics has gone wrong.

We're talking about Islam.It has to be Islam.That's right.All I see walking these streets here is women fully covered in niqab or burqa, not showing their face, nothing.I was shocked.

Tower Hamlets is a London borough with the sort of statistics guaranteed to inflame Pauline's view of the world.Ethnic minorities make up 65 % of the population here.with nearly half of all residents born outside of Britain.

It's definitely not Britain, is it?It's, um...

No, you've got some parts of the country now where people are almost living different, like, parallel lives to the rest of us, where English is barely spoken.

Do you honestly think that you can stop this from continuing in the UK?To me, it looks so...I'm really entrenched here.

Well, that's the thing, you know, my message to you is don't wait, you know, get on with this, because obviously the longer that it happens, the more people you bring into the country from cultures that are different to our own, the harder it is to tackle this.

If Mr Jenrick ever really needed to make his point to Pauline, he definitely has.

It's been really good to come over here on this trip and see what's happening because I It's really making me determined.I was determined beforehand, but more so now, because seeing what's happened here, I'm going to fight it.

Good.

I'm going to fight it.I'm not going to have it happen in Australia.And I've got to convince the Australian people.We either stand up now, or this is what you're going to get.

Britain is broken, and Britain needs reform.And reform will fix it.

Reform UK has an official policy of mass deportation and a stated aim of throwing 600 ,000 people out of the country during its first term in office.Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain has an even harsher manifesto, which critics say is a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.Pauline, I'd like to give you this.

Thank you.

This is a jewel of what you've done.

in Australia.I'll have a good read of this.We're very much on the same page.

It's a plan to remove nearly two million people from Britain in less than three years, either forcibly or by systematically stripping their legal status and creating a hostile environment that withholds welfare and vital services.There's even a reward system for patriotic Britons, offering £500 for verified intelligence leading to a successful deportation.Do you think, Senator, this concept of mass deportation is a good one?

Oh, I love it.

You love it?

Why?

Is that...

You know, that's exactly what Britain wants to do here.

So how would we do it?It's all right talking about it, but practically, how would we do it in Australia?Would we round them up?by some sort of police or officials, border patrol, whatever, and literally put them on.planes and send them back in numbers to whatever country they come from.Is that what you're saying?

Liam, these are things that will be discussed with the relevant authorities to see the best way to go about it.I'm not going to give you policy on the run here of how I'm going to deal with it.This will be discussed.And as I do with everything in policy, I discuss it with the relevant people.

All right, well, let's leave the detail to one side.

But you're more than comfortable with the And I'm supported by my colleagues who totally agree.

A tick to mass deportation.

Yeah, for the ones that are here illegally in the country.

And Pauline's UK tour isn't over yet.

Go on then.Go on then.Go on then.Go on then.

Not by a long shot.

It's my town, bro.It's my town.It's my town.It's my hometown.

Next, you've got two convictions for violent assaults.

So if you attack me now, if you do, do, I'll end up eating you up.

And later...

When you obviously talk about monoculture, like, where does someone like me fit into that?You're a refugee here, aren't you?

Famous man.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

It's fair to say Tommy Robinson is one of Britain's most divisive figures.A violent racist with a string of criminal convictions for assault, stalking and fraud.He's now a far -right podcaster and today Pauline is his special guest.

I am sat in London.I have the great pleasure of meeting a lady I've looked up to for years.There's some people who have been in this battle for a long time, when it wasn't fashionable, when it wasn't cool, and when it was difficult.So many people now are having conversations that people like this lady have tried to have for two decades.And the path has been paved.by people like Pauline Hanson.

So, Pauline.

Thank you.

Senators couldn't quite believe their eyes.Senator Hanson was unrepentant.

I was like, who's this lady?Who's this in Australia?So that's the first time.What year was that?

The first time I wore it in was 2017.

Okay.

And then I wore it again last year.Last year?Yes.

I saw it.For a British audience who don't understand.What is the immigration policy of Australia?How have you ended up with Pakistanis, Somalis, all of these African problems with violent Africans?

Well, it started in 1973 with Gough Whitlam.So they opened up and got rid of the white Australia policy.Then they started bringing in the different migrants.And a lot of them couldn't speak English, but they learn to speak English.But over the decades as the governments have changed and different people they've brought in and a lot of people come into Australia purely for the welfare system.

But how do you prevent this demographical change?

I've said it because I'll stop people coming in from radical Islamic countries and I'll ban the burqa.

So you've got many Muslims in your country who are reliant on the state.

You've got about 4%.

You've got 4 %?

Yeah.So they do bread.They are having children.Because, you know what?In the Quran it says Allah will provide.Well, the Allah providing is a taxpayer.

Is the government of Australia.Correct.It's a taxpayer.It's all the people going to work every day.Guess what?I've had enough.

Such is their chemistry during the hour -long podcast that Robinson invites Pauline to his hometown of Luton.the following day.

We're going to go for a walk tomorrow.I'll show you my town, where I was born, the town that I love.When I was born, we had one mosque.We've now got 45.The town's gone.

It's finished.Then the chat turns to Robinson visiting Australia.

Have you tried to come out to Australia?Have you applied?

I've not applied, no.

I'd love to come to Australia.I'd love to.Obviously, I don't think they'd let me in because of my criminal record.

I'll wait till I'm in there then.

Good, that's what I wanted to hear.That's what I wanted to hear.I'll be watching your elections like, yes, I'm coming to Australia.

The truth is, he has applied twice.In 2019, when, in a highly publicised decision, was refused an Australian visa.He was also denied entry to the US.And in 2024, he was arrested by Canadian immigration officials for failing to declare his criminal convictions.So he's just lied to his new best friend.It's Robinson's promised tour of Luton, whose white British population has halved in the last 20 years.

What I've always tried to warn people is Luton is a blueprint for the rest of the UK.

Yeah.

It's for the rest of the country.

I hate to see the burqa, these women covered up.I can't stand it.

From this point, every shop, every business, every home, everything is Muslim.

I don't want this happening in Australia.

When this is...No, it's going to happen.No, no, it's happening.The thing is, unless you address the immigration, unless you put a hole in it, unless you stop the spread...

And ban the burqa.

Ban the niqab, yeah.Ban the full -face con.

Yep.I totally agree.

They're about to take a walk.A huge provocation by Robinson, the country's most notorious racist.

The red hair will draw the attention, don't worry, and they won't know, who's this redhead?We don't have redheads here.

But Pauline has also played her part, telling us she deliberately wore it.sleeveless dress into this conservative Muslim area.

I'm in Luton Town Centre with Pauline Hanson.I'm about to take her for a walk through my town.Are you ready, Pauline?

Ready.Ready, Pauline?Yes, I'm in your hands, Tommy.

That's what happens.And within seconds of stepping out...Yeah, this is Luton.Welcome to Luton.Robinson gets what he came for.

What's that, mate?What did you say?Where are you from?You're a dickhead, mate.You're lucky I don't knock it off.You're not gonna lie, are you?

Go on, then.Go on, then.What are you doing round here, you dickhead?It's my town, bro.It's my town.It's my town.

It's my hometown.Where are you from?Where are you from?

There's no stopping him, and Pauline doesn't try.

Take your shit out and fuck off.You ain't gonna do shit, you little mug.Right, where's...Sorry, Pauline.Come and question me, bro.Come and question me, bro.

Sorry, Pauline.

I've seen enough.With voters, she's an elected official.Okay.Do you think being associated with a person like you... is a disadvantage for her electoral success or otherwise.

Only to people who listen to the fake stream media.

Right.

People who listen to Pauline Hanson know the media lie.

So you're just doing a Trump, are you?So it's the media's fault.The media's spreading false information.

That actually is the media's fault.The reason why you couldn't have this debate and the reason why no one was allowed to have this discussion is because the media attacked us.anyone who tried to have it as far -right racist extremists.

I'm not talking about the facts.I'm talking about your character.

Okay, so my character, I've never been arrested or questioned on anything to do with race or hate in my life.

But then, hate?

Hate, hate speech.

Tommy, Tommy, you've got two convictions for violent assaults.When are they?Two convictions.

Yeah.

One was an off -duty policeman.

Yeah, when I was 20 years old.So what?I'm 43.

You've just told me a lie.What lie did I tell you?You just said no convictions about hate.Hate or race.Well, you don't...You call kicking an off -duty policeman's head in...

You don't think that's hateful?

Did you read the transcripts of the court case?So he attacks me.Hold on, excuse me, excuse me.Fact, if you read the case, he attacks me, yeah?He lost the fight.Yes, I kicked him, which is where I overstepped self -defence.

So the judge accepted everything I'd done was self -defence until I kicked him.So if you attack me now, if you do, do, I'll end up beating you up.No, that's not my problem, OK?It's not my fault, is it?So, yes, I got convicted when I was 20.

Do you want to talk about the other convictions?

We can if you want, because...

Passport fraud.Mortgage fraud.Stalking.Stalking a woman.Well, we're not blind.We've come with you.

We've documented what you're saying and what you've been doing.So, this fake stream media idea, I don't know where you get that from, but it's not happening here.See, this is the fake stream media.I'm asking you.

This is exactly the fake stream media.This is it.

Don't worry about the labels.Just answer the question.

I wish I hadn't been in ten prisons.I wish all those things.Unfortunately, everyone was fucking silent about the rape of our whole country.I wasn't.So, no, I'm not perfect.I don't claim to be perfect.

I'm not claiming to sit here polishing my halo, which is why I'm from a town like this.This is a rough town.I'm from a rough upbringing, yeah?And if I didn't have that rough upbringing, I'd have been too scared to open my mouth.And you can keep shouting people down and calling them whatever words you want, and you can use the media to try and downplay it.The public are going to be with people like me and people like Pauline.

They see straight past all the bullshit.They don't give a shit.They can see with their own eyes, yeah?Should any Australian town end up like Pakistan?Simple question.

And that's it for both of us.So the reputation that you have tried to build for 30 years, you're happy to just put it on the line?someone like Tommy Robinson?

Why wouldn't I talk to the man?

Why would you?

Oh, am I going to be judged by all these people?Oh, I shouldn't be associating?I shouldn't be talking to this man?You know, that's the problem with our society.

Well, Senator, hang on.You know what politics is like.

I'm not like the other politicians, Liam.I will say and do what I want to, and I will talk to people if I feel, you know, to spend time to learn from them what is happening.

But you're not just talking to him.You're, in effect, supporting him.Why would you...Why would you align yourself with a character like that?

He's a man who's a very proud British man.

He's also a convicted criminal, Senator.

Well, I think the way you say that is really harsh and what he went to prison for.

He's been to prison a number of times and it's a long list.

I'm sorry, I'm not going to back away from this whatsoever.I met Tommy and I listened to what he's trying to tell me about what's happened in Britain.

Senator, he sat there, I was present at your podcast, he sat there, this far away from you, looked you in the eye and told you a barefaced lie.

And what was that?

You asked him, have you ever tried to go to Australia?And he said, No, I haven't.Senator, he's tried twice.

Well, I'm not aware of that.

In the last six years, he's had his visa denied to Australia to visit because, guess what?He fails on character grounds under the Migration Act of 1958.To be clear, Robinson was refused entry to Australia not because of his politics, but his long criminal record.He's a convicted criminal for violent assault.

And didn't he...

mortgage fraud, contempt of court multiple times, Senator.He was a fascist for the British National Party in 2004.And you think it's OK to rub shoulders with this guy and be buddies and learn from him?

That worries me. I'm listening to his experiences here in Britain, what has happened to his country, the town that he actually grew up in.

So how do you feel about him lying to you?

Well, I did know about that, if that's the case.I'm not impressed with that.

I don't think you've done your research.

Anyway, that's my decision.

But would Pauline have been so forgiving on a Muslim with views as radical as Robinson's?It doesn't add up because you are happy to jump up on the soapbox and talk about being strong on law and order and protecting Australians and making the place safe and getting rid of the terrorists.And yet you get buddy -buddy.He is not a terrorist.Nigel Farage calls him a thug.

From your side of politics.That's the first time I've met Tommy Robinson.And I don't regret meeting with him.

You don't regret anything, do you?Never a backward step.

If I feel I'm wrong, I will admit that I'm wrong.But I'm not going to apologise for meeting with Tommy Robinson.

Coming up...Pauline, back at home in Queensland.

Would you ever wear a bikini to the beach?

And later, Barnaby, does she have the intellectual capacity to handle that top job?Pauline's recent mission to the UK seems to have hardened her views on immigration, Islam and national identity.In recent times, you've said Islam is a disease.Do you regret saying that?

No.

Disease, Senator.

It's what spreads.I do see it as incompatible.

As you know, we have almost a million Muslims in Australia.Do you worry that those sorts of things that you say could offend every single one of them?

Does anyone take consideration of how I might be offended?What's happening to the Australian cultural way of life?

We were keen to see how Pauline's vision of a monocultural Australia is playing into in currently multicultural communities.

Hello, Liam.

Senator, how are you?Nice to see you on your home turf.

No, it's not.

Well, it's Brisbane.

It is Brisbane.

Yes.Today, she's meeting a group of young Muslim Australians at the Islamic College of Brisbane.It's proudly one of the nation's most multiracial and multicultural.For Pauline, it's foreign territory.

Senator, welcome to the Islamic College of Brisbane.

We are Queensland's largest and one of the oldest Islamic schools in the country.The school's CEO, Ali Kandri, tells her that he and the entire staff and student body are her constituents.

Senator, have you been to an Islamic school before?

No, I haven't.You're lucky.

welcome you here.

Thank you.

It's the first time Pauline has sat down to talk with those seemingly in monoculture's direct line of fire.

Australia is more than where I live.It's my home.It's a country that has given me the freedom to embrace who I am and pursue my ambitions and dreams without limits.Thank you.

Australia is the only home I've ever known, and it's a country I'm incredibly proud to call my own.

I was born in Pakistan and I moved here to Australia with my family when I was three and a half, and I can confidently say that I'm proud to be Australian.Senator, if your own child or grandchild had a close Muslim friend, would you encourage this friendship?Why or why not?

I have no problem with that, with people having friends as Muslim.You know, it's not about, you know, Being a Muslim, it's about radicalisation.We are seeing so much radicalisation happening in this country.People are in fear now of attacks.Most of the attacks come from radical Islam in this country.That's where my concern is.

Not surprisingly, it's Nabiha's niqab that draws Pauline's ire.

Do you want to wear it yourself personally or does your mother wear it?

My mother wears it, but I chose to wear it.She told me that it's better if I do it when I grow up, but I've always wanted to do it from a young age.And as I grew older to this age, it just, my urge to wear it grew stronger.And yeah, it was my own choice.Why do you feel you want to wear it?Because I feel like it's like a way of me strengthening my connection with my God.

It kind of makes me feel liberated.from social beauty standards because around me I always see a lot of girls, they get like, they're like put down because of the way they look and wearing it makes me feel like people can't exactly see my face so they won't judge me based on how I look.They focus more on like other parts of me like how I talk and like how I interact with other people.

It's your choice.I acknowledge and I accept that, but a lot of women are being forced to actually wear it, you know, when they don't want to.What do you see when you say Australian way of life, Australian culture?Would you ever wear a bikini to the beach?

No.

So is that Australian way of life, wearing a bikini?It's very much an Australian culture.To wear swimsuits and on the beach and different things.If she doesn't wear it, is she not Australian?She can choose what she wants to do.

So if I don't follow this kind of Australian culture, would that mean I'm less Australian than anyone who does?Do you yourself believe that men should have up to, you know, a number of wives?In Australia, it is not allowed.Then I believe that they should follow the Australian law because they choose to live in this country.They should abide by the law.However, if they were in a country where it is allowed to have multiple wives and they're OK with it, then I don't see why there's a problem.

Muslims are coming here disregarding our law and still having their multiple wives under Sharia law.Do you believe in Sharia law?Yes.Do you believe that should be allowed here in Australia?

Not in Australia because it's against the law, but if you look that in...It's not just Muslims.If you look at non -Muslim population, there's also men with multiple wives.

But it is occurring here in Australia anyway.Yeah.Do you believe that you should be allowed to be married off to whoever the parents choose for you?Yeah.

I don't see why there's a problem with it because my parents know what's best for me.As long as there's a mutual agreement, if the child themselves is fine with it, then I don't see why there's a problem.Right.

Then the M word that Pauline now all but owns.

I just had a question about your thoughts on monoculture.So when you obviously talk about monoculture, like where does someone like me fit into that?Like which parts?of my identity as a Muslim Australian.Do you see contributing to Australia and which ones don't?

You're a refugee here, aren't you?No, I was born here.Right, sorry.You were born here, so therefore you're an Australian like everyone else that were born here.Do you want to live in a safe country?We are living in a safe country.

How do you know for how long?Why do people feel that they've got to put up with these gangs that have come from other countries, wielding their machetes on streets, which never, ever, when I grew up in this country, we never had that.So different cultures bring with them a lot of bad as well as a lot of good for our nation.

Certainly, these terms like culture, assimilation, integration, they are loaded terms.They get hurt, Senator.Do you understand that sometimes those words are misinterpreted by some people who may follow you and hurt these people?

You know what?I feel offended that people don't want to embrace this nation to feel that they are Australians.Because our country is not the place that I grew up in.It's not a place that I recognise anymore.

She came, she saw, she left.So what did you think?

It was quite interesting, their views, you know, I don't necessarily, I can see where they're coming from, young minds, but it's still there.You know, you can tell me about, you know, Muslim, they still believe in faith, but like I said, I'm totally opposed to radical Islam and I'll say that again.

Do you think anything of what you said made any difference to their views?processes?

No, not at all.

Next, One Nation's odd couple.March the 7th, 2017.You said if Australia was run by One Nation, it would go down the toilet.Well, things have changed.

But will it hold?

We're not perfect, for Christ's sake.

There's something slightly unnerving about the alliance between political warhorse Barnaby Joyce and his new commander -in -chief.

We must be monocultural.

Barnaby, this idea of monoculture, what does it mean to you?

Well, what it means to me, I think we all have ways of expressing something.I also do not believe in multiculturalism.And if you want to call that a monoculture, Fine, because there are things that are absolutely explicit in other cultures, which were anathema and untenable in Australia.Where do we see that in its most explicit form?At Bondi Beach.Those murderers didn't believe they were doing something wrong.

They believed that they were instructed by their faith, I presume, and that is untenable.

Less than a week after joining One Nation, the Bondi killings affirmed his decision.Have you changed your position?on Islam?Yes, I have.

Bondi changed it for me.You were very moderate about this before.Yeah, look, what's moderate is when they're not of the opinion that I'm somehow a lesser person or that they have some inherent God -given duty to hurt me.And if people say, well, that's, you know, we've got to allow every culture.Well, I suppose you could have the Incas.They believed that for the sun to rise, you had to chop people's heads off, roll them down the side of the pyramid and rip out their beating heart.

That is a culture, without a shadow of a doubt.It's just untenable.

While Barnaby may be playing on Pauline's team now, there was a time when both were very offside.March the 7th, 2017.Okay, I can't remember the day, but let's go.You said, if Australia was run by One Nation.I'll tell you exactly where it's going to go.

And it's going to go down the toilet.Go down the toilet?Well, things have changed.You changed your position.You know what?I'll give you nothing.

You know who else is changing their position, but just keep this to yourself.Session.Otherwise, you wouldn't bother having elections, because I'd all vote the same.If people don't agree with my decision to join One Nation, then I imagine they won't vote for me, and that'll be the end of the story.

Two years after Barnaby tried to flush One Nation's credibility, Pauline gave as good as she got.You know, she said in 2019, and I'm sure you heard it at the time, I know Barnaby.

I speak to him.Nice bloke.But sometimes when it comes to politics, I'm sorry, he's as useless as tits on a bull.

He's as useless as tits on a bull.Well, um, that's also part of the rough and tumble.of the political debate, you know.Um, it's not what she said then and what she thinks now.I, look, it's a tough game, politics.You know, it's just, that is a, look, I can find you people who said much worse about me, honestly.

If One Nation ever achieves government, Barnaby plans to be Treasurer and he says there's plenty more talent where he comes from.You think there is a potential team of decent candidates?Oh, there's not a potential.There will be.

I'm absolutely certain about that.And when you look at the bios of who are in the wings, they're good.

Would I know any of them?Yes, you would.

And no, I'm not going to tell you.

Hand on heart, who would be the better prime minister, Anthony Albanese or Pauline Hanson?Pauline Hanson.Barnaby, does she have the intellectual capacity to handle that top job?Yes.

You are doing well.

What's the ambition?Do you want to become Prime Minister?

That's not an ambition that I have.

You don't?

If it is a necessity that I am ever put in that position, as I've said, I think I'm quite capable of doing the job.But it's not an ambition.With the right people around me, Liam, you can't do it by yourself.You have the right people around you that you work together as a team to try and achieve what you want to achieve.

But at the moment, that team... is very thin on the ground, isn't it?Over the years, it's looked very much like a party that's been built on rejection.It's like a second chance cafe, isn't it?

Perfect for Christ's sake.You know, that's what, you know, annoys me.It's every day it can be a learning experience that we're going through as well.Yes, I don't know everything.I'll be the first one to admit it.Why am I here?

Because I care about my country.I may do things differently.I'm not the polished politician.I'm not the regimented politician giving you straight answers like everyone or half of them can't even answer your question anyway.They don't want to.But at least I'll answer your questions.

You may not like what I have to say, but whenever new job you go into, you learn, but you hit the ground running and we're going to hit the ground running.This is a chess game that we're playing at the moment.And it's a hell of a chess game.

But can she really take the heat?You are going to come under scrutiny.Your personal life.

Don't head down that path.

This was meant to be the crowning moment of her UK tour.A star turn at the International Conservative Conference, CPAC.While the introduction was big.

We'll be hearing from Pauline Hanson.currently the favorite to become the next Prime Minister of Australia.

The turnout was not.The grandly lit hall barely half full as the Australian senator shared her feelings about the state of their country.

Do I want our country to become like England?No.London?No, thank you.That's my opinion.I'm sorry if I upset your feelings, but that's how I feel about it.

Back home, polls may be wavering, but there is no denying Pauline Hanson has mighty appeal.Now, you would realise, Based on the polls so far, the closer you get to the Lodge, the more you are going to come under scrutiny, your personal life.Are you comfortable with that?

My personal life has been under scrutiny for the last 30 years.

You don't think it'll get worse?

Oh, they're trying.

Who's they?

They're trying.The different media outlets.

Well, your first husband came out just a couple of weeks ago for the first time publicly and said you were the most dishonest person he ever knew.That must have been a bitter ending.

Liam, I'll tell you something.I can sit here and I can defend myself, but I'm not going to, because my private life is my business, and I'm not going to get into it tit for tat for my first husband.So don't head down that path.

Because the more successful you are, the more people will go looking for people like your first husband, and the opportunity is there.

The only good thing about it, I found out he's still alive.I thought he was actually dead.

There's nothing else in the closet that we should know about?

If they haven't found it after all these years, especially my rise in 1996 to 1998.So they're grasping at straws and getting whatever dirt they can go for it because I tell you what, I've got nothing to be ashamed of or back away from.

So I want you to put your hand on your heart here.In 30 years of public life, in and out of Parliament, is there anything at all that you regret saying or doing?

Nothing that I can think of.

Not one bit?

No.

Do you regret saying that Australia was going to be swamped by Asians?

I said Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians.Do I regret saying that?No.

So you're not walking it backwards at all.You're not going to give anything on there.That's the Pauline Hanson way.Don't give an inch.Don't go backwards.

If I'm wrong, I will apologize if I'm wrong, but I said it for a reason at the time.

Is that the secret to your success?Is the sense of powerlessness that people feel at the moment, being disconnected, and the anger and the fear, is that driving your success?

It's not the fear, it's actually happening to them.People are in fear of what's happening.I put my head on the chopping block all the time, and I stand up against the establishment, and I say what's really on my mind.And I know every time the backlash that I might get from the media, from the aggressors, from the woke, all these ones that are out there who are ready to have a go at me.And I'm putting myself out there, and I'm saying to the people, well, this is what'syou're going to get.

Senator, what is the end game for you?

Well, I'll tell you what.You got this interview, but you're not going to get an exclusive out of me.Because I'm not ready to disclose what I intend to do.This is a chess game that we're playing at the moment.And it's a hell of a chess game.But at the end of it, I want One Nation to win out of this.

Because if we can win, the people will win.

I wasn't expecting an exclusive.I was expecting a robust conversation, which is exactly what you've given me.So kudos for that.Thanks for coming.

Thank you, Liam.

Thanks for joining us on tonight's special edition of Spotlight.I'm Michael Usher.Good night.