Pauline Hanson has been voted back in. And Australia needs to stop and listen.
It’s been 18 years since the One Nation leader found popularity with her views on anti-immigration and anti-multiculturalism.
She gained global fame for her grass-roots conservative right wing sound bites. She was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
Now, the former fish and chip shop owner – who wants to ban the burqa, install surveillance in all Mosques and prevent Muslim people from being sworn in to Parliament under the Qur’an – has the votes of more than 344,000 Australians behind her for representation in the Senate so far.
And we need to listen to them.
Because there is major discontent happening in Australia. Belief and confidence in the two major parties is at an all time low.
It’s more important than ever to figure out why.
Not so we give voice to ignorance, racism, xenophobia or blatant hateful discrimination – so we can form a bloody government.
We can’t even form a minority government at this point, let alone a majority one.
So why are people voting for a woman who spouts some of the most widely condemned ideologies in modern Australian politics?
Not only do more than 344,000 people who gave their vote to One Nation feel like no one is representing them – they feel like no one is listening to them.
Watch: Pauline Hanson puts the ‘media on notice.’ Post continues after video.
“There’s no doubt that there’s been some kind of repressed conservative vote that’s gone to Pauline Hanson. It will be very important to see how that has happened and why that has happened,” former Liberal Senator Helen Coonan told ABC.
“[Pauline Hanson’s] vote probably represents voters that have been parked somewhere for a very long time, a large number of years, and they’re obviously conservative voters who feel that our side of the record are not listening to them.”
It’s very clear that Pauline Hanson is the only thing that comes close to someone who her voters feel will bring to government issues that identify what they want, what they fear and what they are talking about.
This is what Australians who voted for Pauline Hanson are talking about.
Sharon Peart, 46, from Ballarat.
Shelly Camilleri, 46, from Cunningham.
“She speaks her mind, doesn't tip toe around sensitive issues, what she says is what a lot believe in and fights to protect our oz not sell it (sic).
“[I have] always been a labour (sic) voter so they will always come first, if I could have voted for two firsts then One Nation would be there as well.
“I agree with most of on policies harsh when no bacon and egg rolls, no bacon at Maccas in certain suburbs as they are halal, no more mosques.
“Sadly yes [I believe muslims should be stopped from coming to Australia] only because too many choose not to assimilate with our culture and laws, some choose to follow sharia law n that can be dangerous
“Yes I do [believe in equality for Australia] if they are an Aussie then more power to the Aussie woman/man regardless of race, but we have a long way to go.
Joseph Papworth, 28, Hunter
“It's more Pauline herself. She has that "tell it like it is" attitude. She's the only one with the "balls" to say what everyone else is thinking.
“Just about keeping jobs for Australians, and some other things I can't think of off the top of my head.
“No I don't [believe in banning the Burqa and stopping people of Muslim faith coming into Australia]. I believe people have a choice to practice whatever religion or faith they choose, but also they shouldn't force their beliefs onto us.
“[It doesn’t really bother me that Pauline Hanson doesn’t believe in gay marriage]. I don't think I will ever get married, but I do think everyone should have a choice. I have gay friends who want to get married and they should have the right and choice to do so.
“[I’m hoping for] a better nation for all Australians”
Top Comments
"Not so we give voice to ignorance, racism, xenophobia or blatant hateful discrimination"
Xenophobia is the irrational fear of foreigners. That was where Britain got it wrong in 1938, wasn't it? Due to their blatant hateful discrimination, and their racism, the British demonised the Nazis. They should have been open to Nazi immigration and tolerant of Nazi beliefs, giving them the right to vote and participate in selecting Britain's lawmakers. In their ignorance, they failed to appreciate that, by giving citizenship to Nazis, whose moral values were diametrically opposed to their own, they could diversify and enrich their own culture. Shame on them, the bigots!
Fear of Islam is not irrational. Islam is a genuine threat to millions of individuals and to society as a whole. It has already done incalculable harm, and its representatives regularly promise to continue their harmful programs, and to increase the scope and scale of these programs if possible.
Now watch the self-loathers rush to claim that Christianity is 'just as bad' as Islam. It isn't. Much of what we value in our own society can be traced back to the values laid down in the New Testament.
http://www.huffingtonpost.c...
It may or may not be time to listen to Pauline Hanson but it is time to start listening to people concerned about Islamic teachings.
Oliver Hemsley was in intensive care for approx. 4 months in the UK after an unprovoked attack by a gang of 8 muslims which left him paralysed. His crime was being homosexual. Whatever one thinks of Pauline Hanson at least she is not advocating that homosexuals be killed, At least she is concerned about what is being taught in Islamic schools and mosques.
I certainly don't want to see a rise in gay hate crimes here
But you'd be okay with a rise in anti-Islam or anti-Asian hate crimes?
This morning I read an article about a white man raping a 10 month old baby. In fact, in a large number of pedophelia cases I read, the perp is a white male. Does that mean I can start discriminating against all white men? That is the problem with your argument, you cannot discriminate against a whole race of people based on a few. If you allow that discrimination to occur, it will ignite more violence. Where does it stop?
Australian culture respects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of religion, the equality of men and women etc. When we are bringing in people from countries under sharia law ( or strongly influenced by Islam) it is not unreasonable to be concerned as to whether they are going to respect the Australian way of life and our laws.
You mean discriminating against white men by not allowing them to sit next to kids in planes, things like that?