One Nation leader accused of mirroring Trump’s media strategy after domestic violence remarks

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has drawn comparisons to Donald Trump following widespread condemnation of her comments on domestic violence. Hanson appeared on Brisbane radio station 4BC, stating that violence is a "two-way street" and suggesting that abused women should leave their partners. She added that "women can lose their cool as well" and noted that society is under significant pressure.

Following the broadcast, Hanson posted a video on social media titled "Here’s exactly what I said on 4BC about domestic violence" to counter alleged misrepresentation. She accused the media and the Labor Party of taking her comments out of context, a strategy that an opinion piece by Zoe Daniel in The Guardian argues mirrors Trump’s approach of attacking the press while utilising it for coverage.

Daniel, a three-time ABC foreign correspondent and former independent member for Goldstein, highlights that intimate partner violence is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men. She notes that data indicates leaving an abusive partner is statistically the most dangerous time for women and children, contradicting Hanson’s suggestion that victims should simply depart.

The article points to Trump’s 2016 US presidential election campaign, where he received an estimated US$5.9bn in free media coverage. Trump dominated social media while vilifying mainstream outlets, a tactic Hanson is now reportedly adopting. Daniel suggests Hanson’s recent remarks follow a long pattern of behaviour, including her 1996 maiden parliamentary speech where she warned of being "swamped by Asians."

A federal court previously found Hanson liable for unlawful racial discrimination and vilification under the Racial Discrimination Act after she told Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to "pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan." The piece also references Channel Seven’s Spotlight program, which recently featured Hanson on a trip to Europe where she met rightwingers and spent time with Gina Rinehart. Seven denies arranging the meetings, while Hanson accused the program of misrepresenting its intentions.

Daniel questions the role of legacy media in amplifying Hanson’s platform as consumers increasingly turn to social media for news. She argues that the more Hanson is freely platformed as clickbait rather than properly scrutinised, the more likely it is that One Nation will find its way to power. The article concludes by asking who will take responsibility for this dynamic in an era of information manipulation.