The minor party has surged in popularity in recent weeks, according to a series of opinion polls, with an expected by-election in Farrer set to be the first real-world test of whether that will translate into votes.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has issued a partial apology for her suggestion that there are no “good Muslims”, while attacking the government for “bending over backwards” for migrants and claiming without evidence that there are Australian suburbs Westerners cannot enter.
On Monday, in a late night discussion about the possible return of the wives and children of Islamic State militants, Senator Hanson told Sky News: “I’ve got no time for radical Islam. Their religion concerns me because of what it says in the Koran. They hate Westerners. That’s what it’s all about.”
“You say, ‘Well, there’s good Muslims out there.’ How can you tell me there are ‘good Muslims’?”
The comments were rejected by politicians across the political spectrum, including Nationals senator Matt Canavan, who labelled them “divisive, inflammatory [and] un-Australian”.
Senator Hanson’s remarks were also condemned as hateful by Islamic leaders.
Senator Hanson told the ABC on Wednesday that she did not believe there are no “good Muslims” and referenced a non-practising Muslim woman who stood for One Nation.
Senator Hanson apologised if she “offended anyone out there that doesn’t believe in sharia law, or multiple marriages, or wants to bring ISIS brides in, or people from Gaza that believe in a caliphate”.
But she added: “In general, that is what they want — a world caliphate. And I am not going to apologise … I will have my say now before it’s too late.”
Senator Hanson then suggested that the government’s policies were being unduly influenced by Muslim voters and called for a “far more stringent” vetting process for prospective migrants.
“People are in fear. We don’t know who these people are. You’ve got 18,000 people on ASIO’s watchlist. Doesn’t that tell you something?” she said.
“We’ve had terrorist attacks in this country, and it’s not just about terrorist attacks, it’s about our changing way of life.”
Senator Hanson alleged that Australians were not welcome in some suburbs with large Muslim populations, such as Lakemba in Sydney’s west.
Her comments to the ABC followed a social media statement that doubled down on her earlier remarks.
“I guess they aren’t used to hearing a politician tell the truth without worrying about political correctness,” the post said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke called on Senator Hanson to apologise and said the comments were “wrong and cruel” and “not worthy of someone who holds public office”.
Test of One Nation’s popularity on the horizon
The One Nation leader has consistently received criticism for her stance on Islamic migration. Following her re-election to parliament in 2016 she said “we are in danger of being swamped by Muslims, who bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own”.
More recently she was suspended from the Senate for wearing a burka on the chamber floor — the second time she had pulled the stunt to draw attention to her call for face coverings to be banned across the country.
But the long-standing leader has surged to elevated prominence in recent weeks after a series of opinion polls put One Nation ahead of the Coalition.
The upcoming by-election in Farrer, triggered by former Liberal leader’s Sussan Ley’s resignation, is set to be the first real test of whether the minor party can pull votes away from the Liberal and National parties.
One Nation has traditionally struggled to secure lower house seats, attracting just over 6 per cent of votes at last year’s federal election.
One Nation has one representative in the lower house — former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who defected to the minor party last year.
Senator Hanson attributed some of the party’s recent success to Mr Joyce, describing him as “just an average bloke out there fighting for the Australian people”.
“You don’t have a former deputy prime minister to come across to a party with his credentials and it doesn’t enhance the party,” she said.
Mr Joyce did not condone or reject his new leader’s original remarks when asked on Tuesday.
“I’m not going to say I don’t have people that are friends of the Islamic faith, because I do, but I’m not going to say because of that I am going to put so many people at risk,” he told the Today show.
“I do agree 100 per cent with Pauline, people come into this country completely at odds … with what Australia is.”
Read more on Australian Broadcasting Corporation
