Canberra, September 18
Students staged protests against Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party in Canberra on Thursday.
The protest, titled “Students Say No to Hanson,” was held at Garema Place from 1 pm to 3 pm on September 17. It was organised by High School Anti-Capitalists.
The September 17 protest was the second phase of a student movement that began on August 13. In August, high school and university students in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane walked out of classes and took to the streets to protest One Nation and Hanson’s politics. According to ABC, hundreds of students participated in the protests in each major city.
Students also staged protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart this time. According to an AAP report, more than 1,000 people participated in a protest in Sydney, where students opposed Hanson’s proposed immigration policies.
Hundreds of students also participated in the protest in Melbourne.
Immigration policy a key issue
On September 14, One Nation unveiled a “net-negative migration” plan to reduce the number of temporary visas in Australia by more than 750,000 over three years. The party has presented the plan as a major component of its immigration policy.
According to details released by the party, the plan would significantly reduce international student numbers, cut the number of international graduates allowed to remain in Australia and restrict visas for family members of international students and skilled migrants. ABC reported that One Nation proposed reducing international student places to just over 100,000 a year and creating a separate category for “high-value” students.
The proposals have prompted further debate among universities and international student communities. Students participating in Thursday’s protests expressed opposition to One Nation’s policies on immigration, multiculturalism and social rights.
Back on the streets after August protests
The first nationwide student protests on August 13 were organised at the call of student groups, including the National Union of Students. Students walked out of classes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
According to ABC, police intervened at some locations after tensions arose between One Nation supporters and protesters.
Following the August protests, a second round of demonstrations was announced for September 17. Garema Place was designated as the protest site in Canberra.
The recent political influence of One Nation has also formed part of the backdrop to the protests. A Roy Morgan poll conducted from September 7 to 13 put One Nation’s primary vote at 25 per cent.
The survey was conducted among 1,583 voters across Australia.
One Nation and Hanson have continued to express their political views on the student protests and criticism directed at them. Following the August protests, Hanson said students should recognise that she and her party were working for their future.
