Thousands of high school and university students across Australia skipped classes on Thursday in a coordinated nationwide walkout organised by the National Union of Students, protesting against Pauline Hanson and her far-right One Nation party. Rallies took place in every major city and several smaller locations, with organisers billing the action as a chance to "fight against racism" and "stand up against the far right," pointing in particular to One Nation's stance on multiculturalism.
The protest comes as One Nation's primary vote has surged to 26% in the latest Roy Morgan poll — a significant rise over the past 12 months. Hanson, a 72-year-old senator, used a National Press Club address in June to call for a "monocultural" Australia, and last month appeared on a podcast hosted by British far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Protest organisers also cited her voting record against free vocational education, increased public school funding, and student debt relief. "Pauline Hanson doesn't stand for things that benefit students' lives, and a lot of students are galvanised by that," said Akash Nagarajan, the union's general secretary.
The walkout drew sharp criticism from politicians and commentators across the spectrum. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll both urged students to remain in school, with Clare telling reporters: "If people want to protest on the weekend, fill your boots, but I want you at school when school is on, learning." Liberal Senator Alex Antic questioned whether young people had a sufficient grasp of the issues. Hanson herself responded on social media, arguing students should instead be protesting the cost-of-living crisis, and insisting: "One Nation and I are fighting for you." Victorian One Nation MP Rickie-Lee Tyrrell dismissed accusations of racism as "false," pointing to what she described as a diverse membership base.
Defenders of the walkout argued that student political action is both legitimate and historically effective. Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, young people have the right to civic and political participation, and elected representatives are accountable to all constituents regardless of age. Research suggests many young people understand that, without the right to vote — which in Australia begins at 18 — protest and civic engagement are among the few tools available to them. Senior politics lecturer Benjamin Moffitt of Monash University noted that the rallies were also aimed at Australians "flirting with the idea of voting One Nation," urging them to reconsider.
The protest echoes earlier waves of Australian student activism, most notably the School Strike for Climate movement, which drew similar criticism but ultimately contributed to policy changes at the territorial level. For students like Melbourne high schooler Jules Arpula, the stakes felt clear: "We refuse to just adapt to the new 'normal' of Hansonism," she said. Whether the walkout shifts broader public opinion remains to be seen, but it signals that a generation too young to vote is determined to make itself heard.