MEDIA RELEASE

---

When One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was asked to Skype chat with politics students at a Western Australian high school, she read the request but went one step better: she turned up and met with the students in person.

The visit was a thrill for the politics and law students at the Living Waters Lutheran College, in Warnbro, who listened as she outlined her determined journey into federal politics, some of her personal beliefs, and then answered a range of their questions on a wide range of topics.

One of the key pieces of advice given by Australia’s most famous female political leader was to encourage young people to get involved in politics and also to think for themselves on political and social issues.

“What I say to everyone, and what I say to you, ‘Make up your own minds because, when you go to vote, it’s all about your future’,” Senator Hanson told the seniors.

“I might have policies that you don’t agree with, and the same with the other parties, but the whole thing is that you’re not going to agree with any political party on everything – I’m sure you won’t – but it’s about taking an interest in your future, and don’t be led into a certain way of thinking.”

Senator Hanson spoke on various issues, from her jailing for upsetting the two-party system, her unrelenting desire to fight for positive outcomes for Australia, she gave examples of political and media bias against her, her concerns about politicians’ perks, and her willingness to support good policy regardless of what party proposes it, if it’s for the good of Australia.

In response to students’ questions, she revealed her support of medicinal cannabis but strong objection to recreational drug usage, her opposition to pill testing at festivals, her thoughts on climate change protests, her support for religious freedoms including at religious schools, and her views on immigration.

“The media suggests that I’m against immigration – I’m not against immigration,” Senator Hanson explained.

“It’s about finding that balance where you can actually accommodate the people you bring in, and provide the necessary infrastructure for an increased population – the roads, the hospitals, the schools, the health care … so we have to ensure that the people who are here already have those services provided to them and that there is a decent standard of living.

“My duty is not to people in the rest of the world; my duty and my responsibility is the people who are here already.

“So, I’m passionate about looking after our own, clean up our own back yard first, and when we get it right then you can actually invite more people in because we are very fortunate with what we have in this country.”

Senator Hanson also responded to the students’ questions about allegations of racism.

“Criticism is not racism,” she explained. “My job is to assess issues, based on fact, and have an opinion.

“Everyone is entitled to an opinion – you may not be right, but you have a right to have an opinion – and then debate it.

“You will never solve the problems of this country if you are shut down because you want to speak outside the box.”

She spoke also of her meetings with the Bamaga Council in Torres Strait and with the traditional elders at Uluru, in the Northern Territory.

“Some people are actually hijacking the agenda and trying to be a voice for these Indigenous people, but they are not representing them,” she explained.

“And that is why, of all people, they’re coming to me, and I have their respect and gratitude, and I respect those people – I respect all Australians – it’s about working together and understanding each other.”

Senator Hanson scheduled the college visit soon after completing a stint on the HMAS Stirling submarine, which is based not far from the college, as part of the ADF Parliamentary Program.

She also joked about the “theft” of one of her life-size cardboard cut-outs from the Federal Election campaign, which is among the political paraphernalia that the students have on display in their classroom.

She happily autographed the cut-out to help enhance the students’ political collection.

Senator Hanson also met with the school’s principal, Francois Pienaar.

END