‘Pauline light’: Karl, Nationals senator clash over Hanson speech
Updated . First published
The fallout from Pauline Hanson’s Press Club address continues this morning, with a Nationals senator likening the One Nation leader to Donald Trump.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said she now wants to see the One Nation leader face more scrutiny in the form of media appearances.
“The National Press Club is an important platform for political leaders, I’ve had the great privilege a couple of times to deliver it, it puts you under pressure and you need to be able to face the media and tough scrutiny and nothing says more that One Nation is a mainstream political party than this address,” McKenzie told Today.
Bridget Mckenzie discusses fallout from Pauline Hanson's Press Club address. Today
“But I am concerned that One Nation also wants to pick and choose which media they take questions from, who they like and they don’t like and that might be okay for Donald Trump, but it does not go well for a democracy like Australia.”
McKenzie compared One Nation to the Coalition, who she said is actually delivering on promises around cutting migration numbers, deporting people who hate speech, eliminating net zero and having an affordable and reliable energy system.
But Today host Karl Stefanovic, suggested McKenzie’s party was “Pauline light” and “struggling for oxygen in the same room as her”.
“Well I don’t have red hair, Karl,” McKenzie responded.
“There’s a whole lot of reasons I struggle for oxygen around Pauline Hanson.”
Environment Minister Murray Watt noted the struggle McKenzie had with her response, telling her “If that’s all you’ve got… you have a real problem”.
But while the Labor and Nationals senators disagreed on who was actually delivering with their promises for the Australian people, Watt agreed Hanson’s Press Club address has ruffled feathers, even if her popularity as a potential future prime minister continues to grow.
“She is targeting workers, parents, migrants as well as broadcasters SBS and the ABC,” he said.
“You can’t govern a country if all you’re about is hating other people, you’ve actually got to have a plan to take the country forward.”
Watch the full interview with McKenzie and Watt in the video above.
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