Thousands of students across Australia walked out of their classrooms and lecture halls to protest against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The nationwide rallies, under the banner 'Say No to Pauline Hanson,' took place on Thursday, August 13, in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as in regional centers like Wollongong and Newcastle.
The protests were organized by the National Union of Students and the 'High School Anti Capitalists' group, which is linked to the Socialist Alternative. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi supported the students' actions, sharing a video of herself signing a "permission slip" for them to attend the rally.
At the Sydney protest, approximately 300 participants carried signs and chanted slogans opposing Hanson and her party. Students expressed their views that Hanson does not represent Australia or its multicultural society, with one student describing her as a "disgusting nationalist" who serves only capitalist interests. Another student stated their opposition was because Hanson "f***ing sucks" and that they were protesting to protect "transgender queer migrant brothers and sisters."
Organizers reported strong attendance, with some students indicating that a significant portion of their classmates had also left school to participate. While some school deputies reportedly attempted to dissuade students, some participants mentioned parental support for their actions.
National Union of Students organizer Avasa Bhattacharya told the Daily Mail that the scale of the Sydney turnout exceeded expectations, despite the campaign gaining traction online. Bhattacharya expressed hope that the protest would encourage more public opposition to Hanson and engagement in future demonstrations.
In response to the protests, Senator Hanson suggested that left-wing teachers were encouraging the students. She stated that schools should teach students "how to think, not what to think" and urged them to protest rising costs and government policies instead. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce echoed this sentiment, claiming students were being influenced by individuals with a political agenda. Lee Hanson, Senator Hanson's daughter, suggested that students were being indoctrinated and that schools should be places for education and debate rather than political activism.