Young Muslim Australians say they're experiencing rising Islamophobia and alienation in their own country, with many directly linking the hostility to Pauline Hanson's decades-long political campaign against Islam.
A new Guardian investigation interviewed Muslim teenagers across Australia who described feeling fearful, unwelcome, and constantly having to defend their faith and identity. Many said Hanson's prominence in Australian politics has normalised anti-Muslim rhetoric and emboldened others to express prejudice openly.
"Pauline doesn't like us," one teenager told The Guardian, summarising what has become a widely understood reality among young Muslims. The One Nation leader has built her political career on opposition to Muslim immigration and multiculturalism, from her infamous 1996 maiden speech warning Australia was "in danger of being swamped by Asians" to her more recent focus on Islam and calls for Muslim migration bans.
Mate, this is what happens when anti-Muslim rhetoric becomes mainstream political discourse for nearly three decades. These are Australian kids, many born here, who are being made to feel like outsiders in their own country because of their religion.
The teenagers interviewed described specific incidents of discrimination: being told to "go back where you came from," experiencing heightened scrutiny at airports, facing assumptions about terrorism, and dealing with hostile comments about headscarves. Several said the rise of social media has amplified Islamophobic content, with algorithms often recommending anti-Muslim material after users show interest in news about Muslims or Islam.
The report comes amid broader concerns about rising religious and racial intolerance in Australia. The Australian Human Rights Commission has documented increasing reports of discrimination against Muslim Australians, particularly Muslim women who wear hijabs and are more visibly identifiable as Muslims.
's influence extends beyond her own voters. Academics interviewed for the investigation noted that her rhetoric has shifted the boundaries of acceptable political discourse, making it easier for mainstream politicians to adopt anti-Muslim positions without facing significant political consequences. The One Nation leader's 2017 stunt of wearing a burqa in Parliament, for example, was condemned but also received extensive media coverage that amplified her message.
