Pauline Hanson echoes Trump as she lashes out about ‘fake news’ reporting on lavish London hotel
Guardian AU
•Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:33:22 GMT
📰 What Happened
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has lashed out at major news outlets over reporting on her European holiday, angrily denying that she used supporter donations to fund a lavish London hotel — while confirming the party did foot the bill. Hanson adopted US president Donald Trump's catchcry of 'fake news' to attack the coverage of her trip to England and Italy. One Nation has also defended barring journalists, including from the Guardian and ABC, from events, arguing that 'free speech' did not mean journalists asking questions at a press conference.
🔍 The Backstory
The dispute follows growing scrutiny of One Nation's antagonistic relationship with the media, including its decision to block certain journalists from its events. Hanson said One Nation covered 'all travel costs' for the trip aside from those paid by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, and that fundraising from the party's 'Fire the Liar' campaign had been 'quarantined to fight Labor'. Her use of the 'fake news' framing echoes the language used by Trump against critical coverage.
🎯 Why It Matters
The episode highlights the escalating tension between One Nation and mainstream media, and the party's adoption of populist anti-media rhetoric increasingly common in international politics. Questions about how party donations are spent and which journalists gain access carry implications for transparency and press freedom in Australian politics, as One Nation seeks to challenge both major parties at the federal level.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has lashed out at major news outlets over reporting on her European holiday, angrily denying that she used supporter donations to fund a lavish London hotel — while confirming the party did foot the bill. Hanson adopted US president Donald Trump's catchcry of 'fake news' to attack the coverage of her trip to England and Italy. One Nation has also defended barring journalists, including from the Guardian and ABC, from events, arguing that 'free speech' did not mean journalists asking questions at a press conference.
The dispute follows growing scrutiny of One Nation's antagonistic relationship with the media, including its decision to block certain journalists from its events. Hanson said One Nation covered 'all travel costs' for the trip aside from those paid by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, and that fundraising from the party's 'Fire the Liar' campaign had been 'quarantined to fight Labor'. Her use of the 'fake news' framing echoes the language used by Trump against critical coverage.
The episode highlights the escalating tension between One Nation and mainstream media, and the party's adoption of populist anti-media rhetoric increasingly common in international politics. Questions about how party donations are spent and which journalists gain access carry implications for transparency and press freedom in Australian politics, as One Nation seeks to challenge both major parties at the federal level.