Hanson Demands Attorney-General to Retract ‘Extremist’ Claims After By-Election Win

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on May 13, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has demanded Attorney-General Michelle Rowland retract claims that her party contained “extremist” elements and posed a danger to Australia following the Secret Harbour by-election.

The by-election result marked a major breakthrough for One Nation, with Luke Herdegen becoming the party’s first lower-house MP in Western Australia.

Herdegen defeated Labor’s Georgia Tree 57 percent to 43 percent on a two-candidate-preferred basis, ending decades of Labor control of the southern Perth electorate.

However, following the result, Rowland said One Nation had been “infiltrated by extremists” after Hanson raised concerns about threats against her.

“I would suggest that Senator Hanson should examine what her party and what her ideology and her behaviour is doing, and whether or not that is encouraging that,” she told ABC Radio.

“When you go on and you entertain some of the individuals whom she has been entertaining, who are not only convicted criminals, when you admit that you have a party that has been infiltrated by extremists and neo-Nazis, this is exactly the kind of danger to which politicians are being put in this country.”

However, Rowland sought to distance her remarks from any personal animosity toward Hanson.

“I don’t wish ill on Ms. Hanson in a physical way. I don’t wish any politician any ill will, irrespective of their political persuasion,” she said.

“But I think sometimes when comments like this are made, one needs to look at oneself and one’s behaviour and the kinds of standards that they accept into their own party and their own ideology.”

Hanson Demands Retraction of Comments

Hanson called on Rowland to retract the comments and apologise in a post to X on Sept. 1.

“Attorney-General Michelle Rowland must retract her comments and apologise for slandering One Nation and its supporters while appearing to excuse the violent threats directed against them,” she said.

“Millions of Australians support One Nation. They are not extremists. They are not dangerous. And ministers should not use language that encourages others to treat them as if they are,” she said.

“No minister, especially the Attorney-General and first law officer of the country, should suggest there is any justification for threats against Australians because of the political party they support,” she said.

Hanson said Labor should ask why voters are abandoning it rather than demonising them for their choices.

Rowland’s comments came just days after Hanson warned that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers had “crossed the line” by labelling One Nation a “dangerous threat” at the Queensland Labor conference on Aug. 30.

Foreign Minister Says Labor Accepts Result

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Labor accepted the message from its loss to One Nation in the Secret Harbour by-election, but described the result as “very disappointing.”

“I know WA Labor will be, and we all are, disappointed by this result,” she said.

“We know that many Australians believe the status quo is not delivering sufficiently for them.

“I accept that there is a message sent in this by-election for us. I think we understand … the importance of delivering real change.”

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Hanson Demands Retraction of Comments Foreign Minister Says Labor Accepts Result