Pauline Hanson has opened up about some of the darkest moments of her life, including domestic violence, a prison stint, and the relentless accusations of racism that have trailed her for decades.
The One Nation leader was speaking at the Swan Chamber of Commerce event in Western Australia on Thursday, where she was rallying support for her party. But instead of sticking to policy, she gave the audience an intimate look at her personal history.
“I won’t go into detail, but I had domestic violence as well,” Hanson told the crowd. She linked the experience to her time running a small business before entering politics, saying it gave her insight into the struggles of everyday Australians.
Hanson also recounted her rise in politics, starting with the 1998 Queensland state election where One Nation won 11 seats — six from Labor and five from the Coalition. “That put the fear into the major political parties, especially the Howard government,” she said. She claimed the major parties colluded to preference One Nation last in the subsequent federal election, blocking them from translating that state success into federal seats.
When asked directly whether she considers herself or her party racist, Hanson was defiant. “Do I care if people want to call me that? No way in the wide world, because you know what, they don’t know who I am.” She added that she has “an open heart and mind” to migrants but is proud of her country and respects those who fought for it.
“I have an open heart and mind to a lot of people that come to this country, but at the end of the day, I am Australian, and I’m so proud of my country.”
Hanson also detailed her experience in prison after being found guilty of electoral fraud in 2003 — a conviction later overturned. She described being handcuffed in the courtroom, strip-searched, and taken to a watch house. “That night I just, I actually gave up, I stopped eating … I just gave up,” she said. Guards moved her to the prison hospital ward.
The hardest part, she said, was knowing she was innocent. “I’d been given a sentence and the people didn’t believe me, that I had to be dishonest about registering a political party when I knew that we had thousands of members.”
Despite the lows, Hanson said those experiences shaped her. “Don’t keep living in the past that’s gone, acknowledge what’s happened, and move on with your life.” She urged the audience to ignore critics and focus on the people who genuinely care.
When asked what advice she would give her 10-year-old self, Hanson kept it simple: stick to your principles and don't let others pull you down.
The speech comes as Hanson continues to campaign for One Nation ahead of the next federal election, still drawing both fervent support and fierce criticism after more than two decades in politics.