Australia's far-right One Nation leader Pauline Hanson expelled ABC journalists from a press conference in Albury on May 8, escalating her long-running campaign against the national broadcaster just as the federal election campaign heats up.
ABC Goulburn Murray journalists Annie Brown and Erin Somerville were escorted out of the event while Senator Hanson and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce were present. More than 10 other media crews watched the removal unfold.
The directive came directly from Senator Hanson herself, according to witnesses. One Nation candidate David Farley appeared largely unaware of why the ABC was being excluded — awkward timing given he'd appeared on ABC Radio less than an hour earlier, broadcasting live from Albury's QEII Square with presenters Sandra Moon and Nic Healey.
Mate, this is the pattern. Hanson has been known to criticize the ABC and deny them entry to her events for years. Earlier that morning, the ABC program Australian Story had been prevented from entering the One Nation Albury office.
The expulsion raises questions about press freedom and media access during campaign events, particularly in regional areas where the ABC is often the only serious news presence. When asked about media access to his election night party, Farley deferred the decision to his advisers and One Nation senators Sean Bell and Tyron Whitten.
This is what happens when populist politicians decide which journalists get to ask questions. In regional NSW, where commercial media has hollowed out, the ABC is the main accountability mechanism. Barring them isn't just petty — it's anti-democratic.
The incident comes as One Nation campaigns hard in regional seats where discontent with major parties runs high. Hanson's hostility toward the ABC plays well with her base, who view the broadcaster as urban and elitist. But it also means voters in places like Albury get less scrutiny of their candidates.
Neither Senator Hanson nor One Nation headquarters responded to requests for comment. The ABC said its journalists would continue covering the campaign fairly and without fear or favor.
