Pauline Hanson's attack of Guardian reporter labelled an 'assault on free press'

Pauline Hanson's beratement of Guardian reporter labelled an 'assault on free press' Thu 18 Jun 2026 at 4:43am In short: The media union says a "bitter" attack by Pauline Hanson against a journalist during her National Press Club address was unacceptable. Labor and Liberal MPs have criticised One Nation's treatment of the media, with one suggesting Senator Hanson must be more willing to face scrutiny. What's next? Pauline Hanson says she will pursue the abolition of the SBS and deep cuts to the ABC if elected to government. Pauline Hanson's attack on a Guardian journalist questioning her at the National Press Club yesterday was an "assault on the freedom of the press", the media union says, as Labor and Liberal MPs criticise the One Nation leader for getting personal with journalists. The Guardian has also defended its senior reporter Sarah Martin, saying it stands by the "rigour" of her reporting, and was concerned by One Nation's statements suggesting The Guardian and other outlets including the ABC were not welcome at party events or press conferences. At her first National Press Club address Senator Hanson called Guardian journalist Sarah Martin "trashy" for questioning her daughter Lee Hanson's employment by One Nation, saying she would be banned from future events. "Honestly, you never give up, I have never seen a person that is such a trashy journalist, and what you put out all the time, you've got this obsession with constantly trying to pull down myself, my party or Mrs [Gina] Rinehart," Senator Hanson said. "You will be banned from my answering, I'll answer you this question today but I am telling you now, don't come near me for an interview in the future." Lee Hanson has been employed as a senior adviser to NSW senator Sean Bell, garnering a salary of up to $180,000, which the Guardian questioned in reporting given Ms Hanson is based in Tasmania, and heavily involved in expanding the party's presence in that state. She is not the first or only politician whose party employs family — Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, for instance, declares on his interest register that his son works as an electorate officer for state Labor MP Anoulack Chanthivong. Both of former prime minister Kevin Rudd's sons were controversially appointed to work on his re-election campaign as advisers in 2013. But as One Nation's popularity has risen, its operations have come under closer scrutiny, including by Ms Martin, who has reported on the behaviour of some of its officials, the party's financial records and declared as well as undeclared support from billionaire Gina Rinehart. Senator Hanson accused Ms Martin's reporting of being poorly researched and "lies", adding that her daughter had been appointed as an adviser "on her own merits". The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance said Senator Hanson's "bitter, personal and unprofessional attacks" on Ms Martin, as well as the party's ban on Guardian and ABC journalists were an assault on press freedom. "Sarah is an experienced and professional journalist who was attending her place of work to do her job of holding the powerful to account. Journalists must be provided with safe workplaces, free from abuse, so we can uphold the public's right to know," a union spokesperson said in a statement. "Her question was entirely appropriate. The audience she reports for deserves answers. We call on all our colleagues across the industry, regardless of their employer, to stand with us and hold the line against attacks on press freedom from politicians who seek to avoid scrutiny. "If a fellow journalist is denied access, threatened or abused, it is our shared responsibility to stand with them. We must ensure all journalists have the same rights to report on matters in the public interest, and to ensure their questions are answered." Hanson says reporters don't have 'licence to pile on' Senator Hanson has repeatedly criticised journalists reporting on her and One Nation, casting the media as a force seeking to discredit her. In official materials distributed to supporters, the party warns against "the media, especially outfits like the ABC", which it says "wait with cameras hoping to push the false line that true Australians are the ones causing trouble". The party has on some occasions prevented journalists from participating in events or press conferences, which the senator today suggested was because of her belief that those outlets were biased against One Nation. Before launching her attack on Ms Martin, Senator Hanson told reporters that she "should be scrutinised", but "that doesn't give you the licence to pile on". "It doesn't give you the licence to de-legitimise my party," she said. Liberal senator James McGrath said if Senator Hanson was serious about running the country, she would have to be ready to face scrutiny. "I'm the first person to give the ABC a good old smack, and the ABC gives it back to me. But you can't go around and just ban media organisations, regardless of your view of them," Senator McGrath told Sky News. "The fourth estate has a very important role to make sure that all politicians, regardless of our political positions, are held to account. "You cannot run to be prime minister of this country on the basis of just grumbles and complaints. You do need to have serious policy positions." Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher urged politicians to turn the temperature down. "I think we've seen examples from overseas where journalists get attacked. We know the pile on that will come on particular journalists when that happens, when videos circulate," Senator Gallagher said. "We should disagree on the issues, but we shouldn't personalise and demean each other, whether that be politician to politician or politician to journalist. "I am concerned about how some politicians are seeking to conduct politics in this country. I don't think it's the Australian way of conducting politics." The One Nation leader also used yesterday's Press Club address to outline her intentions to completely abolish the SBS, which she said was no longer needed thanks to the internet, and make deep cuts to the ABC. Senator Hanson suggested taxpayer funding could still support some regional broadcasting services, but otherwise the national broadcaster would be shifted to a subscription-based funding model. Communications Minister Anika Wells said Australians should not have to pay for the ABC. "The ABC is a lifeline during natural disasters for many Australians, particularly in regional areas and we will continue to back it," a spokesperson for Ms Wells said.