CANBERRA – Activist group GetUp has claimed responsibility for the protest banner that briefly disrupted Pauline Hanson’s address at the National Press Club, reigniting tensions between the progressive campaigning organisation and the One Nation leader.
Shortly after the incident, GetUp took to social media with a simple message: “It was us.”
The banner, which was unfurled during Hanson’s speech in Canberra, accused the One Nation leader of opposing wage increases for Australian workers.
It read:
“I opposed a pay rise for workers.”
A footnote on the banner further alleged that Hanson had accepted a parliamentary pay increase worth approximately $100,000 herself.
The banner was quickly removed by National Press Club staff, allowing the event to continue without further interruption.
Hanson Already Had GetUp in Her Sights
The protest came during Hanson’s first-ever National Press Club address, where she outlined her vision for Australia and criticised immigration levels, energy policies, government spending and what she described as the failures of the political establishment.
Interestingly, Hanson had already referenced GetUp during her speech.
She singled out the organisation’s reported $600,000 campaign against One Nation during the recent Farrer by-election, dismissing the group as a “far-left mob.”
Rather than damaging her party, Hanson argued, campaigns by progressive activists often strengthen support for One Nation among voters who feel disconnected from mainstream politics.
“They think they’re hurting us, but all they’re doing is pushing more Australians towards One Nation,” Hanson suggested during the address.
A Symbolic Clash of Political Visions
The incident highlights the deep ideological divide between Hanson and GetUp.
One Nation has built its platform around stricter immigration controls, national identity, cost-of-living concerns and opposition to what it sees as political correctness.
GetUp, meanwhile, campaigns on progressive causes including climate action, workers’ rights, social equality and democratic reform.
For supporters of GetUp, the banner was a legitimate form of political protest designed to challenge Hanson’s record.
For One Nation supporters, it represented another example of activist groups attempting to silence political views they disagree with.
Growing Political Tensions
The protest comes at a time when One Nation is experiencing renewed political momentum, with recent polling suggesting growing support for the party in several regions across Australia.
As voter frustration over housing affordability, immigration levels and the cost of living continues to rise, Hanson has increasingly positioned herself as a voice for Australians who feel overlooked by the major parties.
The confrontation at the National Press Club may have lasted only a few moments, but it underscored a broader reality: Australia’s political debate is becoming increasingly polarised.
Whether the protest helps GetUp’s cause or further boosts Hanson’s profile remains to be seen, but both sides are likely to use the incident to rally their respective supporters in the months ahead.