The recent fallout from Pauline Hanson's European jaunt has provided a stark reminder of the toxic brand of politics she continues to peddle. Through unprecedented media scrutiny, including Liam Bartlett's recent Channel 7 Spotlight program, the layers of carefully managed public relations are being peeled back. What has been revealed is that "the real Pauline" is virtually indistinguishable from her 1990s iteration. Until recently, her extreme prejudices and simplistic worldview had become mostly background noise in Australian politics. But the country can no longer afford to tune out.
During her so-called "study tour" of the UK, Hanson dropped her guard repeatedly. She displayed visible disdain when exposed to ethnic diversity on the streets of London and Luton. She sought out the company of extreme right-wing figures, including convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, and enthusiastically backed mass deportations, stating she would pursue similar policies in Australia if given the chance.
For a while now, Hanson's worst excesses seemed contained, perhaps due to the influence of Barnaby Joyce. An older and wiser head, Joyce has apparently warned her against the inflammatory stunts such as the infamous burqa-wearing she was happy to boast about to her far-right chums in the UK.
