One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has accused police of trying to use Labor’s new “hate speech” laws to put her in jail over comments she made about Muslims earlier this week.
Ms Hanson spoke out on Friday afternoon in response to the Australian Federal Police telling Newswire they had “received reports of a crime” in relation to her asking in a Sky News interview on Monday “how can you tell me there are good Muslims”.
The comments sparked attacks from uniparty leaders, the corporate media, and Muslim lobby groups and politicians, but Ms Hanson’s supporters have overwhelmingly defended her on social media, and she has doubled down on her criticisms of radical Islam while her party surges in the polls.
According to https://t.co/TL7Wq3sSLS, the Federal Police have “received reports of a crime” following the interview I did with Sky News Australia.
In other words, they’re trying to use Labor’s new hate speech laws to put me back in jail.
Let me send a very clear message to… pic.twitter.com/iwZBsAjoHv
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) February 20, 2026
“They’re trying to use Labor’s new hate speech laws to put me back in jail. Let me send a very clear message to those within Labor and the left side of politics. Stop gaslighting the Australian public,” Ms Hanson wrote in response to the AFP’s remarks.
“None of us have forgotten what happened at Bondi prior to Christmas. We also haven’t forgotten what occurred at the Lindt Café, or to Curtis Cheng. If Australia doesn’t speak up now – our nation will fall victim to the same issues being experienced across Europe, the UK, Canada and other western societies.”
Ms Hanson has been a vocal opponent of Labor’s “hate speech” and “hate groups” legislation, that was rushed through parliament with the backing of the Coalition last month in response to the Bondi Islamic terrorist attacks.
In an interview earlier this month she promised to repeal all of Australia’s anti-free speech laws, and referred to warnings from legal experts that the government could use the new laws to prosecute her.
Ms Hanson responded to attacks from Sky News Australia presenters this week by saying she apologised if she’s offended Muslims who don’t “support sharia law, female circumcision, child marriages” but repeatedly spoke out about radical Islam and said it had to be banned.
Some media is trying to claim I went on some kind of ‘tirade’ last night.
I guess they aren’t used to hearing a politician tell the truth without worrying about political correctness.
The fact is we have to ban the importation of radical Islam that hates western society,… pic.twitter.com/o5N2plrBSD
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) February 16, 2026
The mayor of Muslim-dominated Canterbury-Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest, Bilal El-Hayek, told ABC News on Friday Ms Hanson “should be charged” for hate speech.
“It’s an open and shut case. What she said was highly inflammatory,” he said.
“There is specific reference made of public incitement of hatred, discrimination, or violence against protected groups based on race, religion, or gender,” he said.
“Clearly, her target was clearly the Muslim people. And I have no doubt that her remarks will incite someone.”
Prime Minister Albanese called Ms Hanson’s comments “disgraceful” and alleged there was a link between her comments and a threat of violence, while Opposition leader Angus Taylor said he disagreed with the comments, and NSW Premier Chris Minns said they may have “inflamed tensions”.
The accusations come after federal and state governments responded to lobbying from the Jewish community following the Bondi massacre by passing new “hate speech” laws that have mainly been used against the political right.
No Muslim hate preachers have been charged or deported, and Mr Albanese repeatedly deflected to warning about “right-wing extremism” after the ISIS-linked December 14 attack.
One Nation is now the second most popular party federally, is leading in the polls in Victoria, and in second place in South Australia, and is seen as the best party nationwide to deal with the issue of mass immigration.
Header image: Left, Pauline Hanson during the interview where she made the comments (Sky News Australia). Right, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett and Anthony Albanese (AFP).
