Lambie Urges Voters to Reject ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Delusional’ Hanson
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has issued a stern warning to Australian voters, urging them not to support what she describes as the “dangerous” and “delusional” rhetoric of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. In a passionate speech during adjournment in the Senate, Lambie drew sharp comparisons between Hanson and controversial international populist figures, stating that such leaders ultimately harm the lives of working people.
The outspoken senator faced a barrage of online abuse after she fiercely defended Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who was repeatedly labelled a “traitor” in a One Nation cartoon series. Lambie used her speech to expose what she called the “populist trick” of whipping up anger to scapegoat others.
Lambie said:
double quotation markOne Nation whips up the anger and they tell people who to blame. That’s the populist trick … It’s a trick Australia, and we’ve got to wake up to it. Because every time a populist leader, like Trump or Farage, get any power, the lives of working people don’t get better. They get worse.
The senator specifically criticized Hanson’s support for potential military engagements, questioning the idea of deploying Australian soldiers in another American-led conflict in Iran.
double quotation markYou’d put [Australian soldiers] back in another American forever war? [Hanson] is not only dangerous, she’s delusional!
Lambie argued that figures such as Donald Trump and Nigel Farage excel at telling people they will fight for them, only to do the opposite and “feather their own nests” once in power.
double quotation markSenator Hanson will be fine in her retirement, as will Nigel and Donald in theirs, because once again they are feathering their own nests … Australia can choose not to follow the ugly politics of populism, we can do better because we bloody are better.
And it’s not about right or left, it’s about respect and finding solutions, and not operating from a place of fear – whatever side you’re on.
NSW One Nation Leader Fronts Rally Opposing Abortion Bill
The head of One Nation in New South Wales, Mike Newman, has fronted a rally outside the state parliament house opposing proposed abortion legislation. The protest comes ahead of an expected upper house vote on Libertarian member John Ruddick’s private member’s bill to ban “sex-selective abortions.”
Appearing alongside members of fringe parties on Tuesday evening, Newman claimed the party wanted to “stop” abortion rights. In a speech that saw him stumble over his words, he told the crowd:
double quotation markWe want to stop it. We want to make sure that same-sex-, sorry, abortion is stopped. We want to make sure that people have the right to life, and we will vote for you in favour of that.
Debate on the bill was adjourned during the June sitting week and is expected to be decided via a conscience vote. Labor and opposition sources indicate the vote is highly likely to be close, with support for the bill potentially falling short.
The rally follows another anti-abortion event in June, which was attended by One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce, who applied pressure on Nationals MPs to vote in favor of the bill. With key figures like Shooters, Farmers and Fishers MLC Robert Borsak expected to be absent, a senior Liberal source noted that the bill may lack the necessary margin to pass.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has addressed concerns regarding the Aukus submarine program, following reports that the UK Labour government was delaying its decision to begin construction by two years. Marles assured that there is “no change” on Australia’s end, dismissing suggestions of “red flags” in the partnership.
double quotation markThe ultimate number of submarines is not the key issue here, the key issue is the development of the design, the pace of that which is happening.
The UK is on track to cut steel in respect of its first SSN Aukus submarine next year. It’s on track to have that submarine come off the production line in the UK in the late 2030s. That’s perfect timing in respect of what we’re doing … We are really comfortable with what is happening there.
In a separate appearance on ABC’s 7.30 program, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles expressed that he is “comforted” by a recent essay from the head of artificial intelligence company Anthropic, which warned that the industry must slow the pace of AI development. Marles was asked about Dario Amodei’s comments urging governments to press pause on the AI revolution.
He replied:
double quotation markI actually take comfort in Dario Amodei’s essay and the call he’s made … It’s firstly not about … stopping this all together but rather making sure that the development of the safeguards that are in place in respect of this technology is in front of the technological capability itself …
The technology is being developed very quickly, and … from an Australian point of view, our focus is making sure that in seeing this as a revolutionary technology which can be doing so much good in Australia that, we do have in place … AI safeguards in Australia which make sure that this is a technology which is benefit Australians and not the other way around.
