Students Call for Hanson to Be Shot and Killed in Protest Footage

Summary:

High school and university students in cities across Australia left classes on 13 August for coordinated protests against Pauline Hanson and One Nation. The campaign was led by National Union of Students Education Officer Yasmine Johnson, a Socialist Alternative member, working with High School Anti-Capitalists, campus Socialist Alternative branches, Students for Palestine groups and university student representative councils. One Nation undercover footage from Sydney Town Hall captured participants stating they would “shoot her,” “kill her” or subject her to the guillotine. In Melbourne, adult marshals wearing keffiyehs blocked independent reporters while a protester snatched a News24 microphone mid-broadcast. Other independent journalists were also blocked and abused by attendees. Mainstream news outlets reporting on the protests focused their coverage on turnout figures and general anti-Hanson chants and signs describing Hanson as a racist. Political responses ranged from Hanson’s call for schools to teach critical thinking to Education Minister Jason Clare’s insistence that students remain in class. The walkouts occurred as One Nation recorded primary support in the mid-20s.

Detailed Report

1. Nationwide Walkouts Against One Nation

On 13 August, high school and university students left class in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle under the banner “Students Say No to Hanson.” The action was organised by the National Union of Students, Socialist Alternative and the High School Anti-Capitalists collective. NUS Education Officer Yasmine Johnson, a member of Socialist Alternative, fronted the national campaign. High School Anti-Capitalists had earlier distributed practical guides instructing secondary students on how to recruit classmates, establish group chats and place posters inside schools.

Participation levels differed across the cities. Melbourne drew hundreds to low thousands who assembled at the State Library of Victoria and marched through the central business district. Several hundred gathered at Sydney Town Hall. More than a thousand attended in Perth. Adelaide organisers reported participation from nearly fifty schools. Speaking platforms in several cities were dominated by university representatives and adult activists rather than high-school students.

2. Undercover Footage Exposes Violent Rhetoric at Anti-Hanson Protests

One Nation released undercover video recorded at the Sydney Town Hall protest. When participants were asked what they would do if Pauline Hanson were present, the responses included statements that they would “shoot her,” “hit her,” “slap the shit out of that fucking bitch,” and “kill her.” Students also described Hanson as 100 percent fascist and called for the punishment to be death by guillotine.

Further chants recorded across the events included “Fuck Pauline Hanson” and “Pauline Hanson go to hell, take One Nation there as well.” In Adelaide, students confronted One Nation SA leader Cory Bernardi outside Parliament House and directed the same language at him, chanting “Fuck Pauline Hanson” and “Fuck Cory Bernardi” while he stood among the crowd.

Students in the One Nation undercover footage stated they had been encouraged to attend by teachers. One student noted that a teacher note left for a class read: “Assuming everyone not here is at the protest, love you guys, walk extra hard for me.”

3. On-the-Ground Incidents: Media Blocks, Abuse and Protest Branding

Adult marshals directed crowd movement and controlled media access at several locations. In Melbourne, marshals wearing keffiyehs and high-visibility or pink vests managed the perimeter and restricted independent journalists while allowing ABC crews inside the rally area. News24 reporter Georgie Dickerson had her microphone snatched by a protester during a live cross. She pursued the individual through the crowd until Rebel News security recovered the equipment. Police did not intervene. Avi Yemini of Rebel News was physically blocked by adult marshals and subjected to repeated abuse, including sustained chants of “fuck off Nazis.” When he asked students basic questions about One Nation policy, many were unable to name specific policies and defaulted to slogans or name-calling.

Visual markers present at the events included keffiyehs worn by adult marshals, Palestine-related branding and Students for Palestine materials, Socialist Alternative and campus socialist branding, and homemade placards carrying strong language such as “F*CK PAULINE,” “Pauline the racist machine” and “Intifada is not hate.”

4. Mainstream Media Emphasises Crowd Size as Extreme Rhetoric Receives Little Attention

Major outlets including the ABC, The Guardian, The Age, Herald Sun and news.com.au reported the walkouts with primary emphasis on turnout estimates, the presence of students in school uniform, and the political reactions of government ministers and One Nation figures. They recorded general anti-Hanson chants and signs describing Hanson as a racist. The explicit death threats captured in the undercover footage, along with the extreme rhetoric and the degree of adult control over media access received little or no coverage in the same reports.

5. Key Statements and Political Reactions

Pauline Hanson on the morning of the protests stated: “Schools should teach young Australians how to think, not what to think. If you want to protest something, protest why your parents’ wages are going backwards and the cost of everything is going up. The Labor Greens government is selling out your future, and you’ll inherit a weaker, poorer and less safe country. Whether you know it or not, One Nation and I are fighting for you.”

Barnaby Joyce said: “[Students have] been told to hate this country, and they’ve been advised by people – because it’s not on the students’ own volition – they’ve been advised by a clique of people who have a political purpose… Do you honestly believe … that three weeks ago those children of their own volition were saying: ‘I think I’m going to have a political protest against a political party?’ No, they just wanted to go to school and play soccer with their mates. Socialist teachers, left-wing teachers are making their statement and using the kids as a prop, and that’s very, very wrong.”

Education Minister Jason Clare stated: “If people want to protest on the weekend, then fill your boots, but I want you at school when school is on, learning.” He also said: “I get it that people don’t like One Nation, I don’t like One Nation either… I want kids at school learning.”

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said: “First and foremost, my message to every student is: if you want to change the world, stay at school, focus on what your learning is in the classroom… I understand they’re angry with the sentiment and the policies of One Nation, but the best way to change your future in the world is to get an education and to stay in school.”

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi posted a video the day before encouraging students to skip school, make a big sign, and “have fun.” The caption included “Power to the students.” NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong spoke at the Sydney rally. SA Greens MLC Melanie Selwood was listed as a speaker in Adelaide.

Conclusion

The 13 August walkouts produced documented threats of lethal violence against an elected politician, recorded on camera from participants still of school age. The protests were organised by adult political networks and accompanied by clear restrictions on independent media. Mainstream coverage largely passed over the most serious material captured on the day.