Thousands of Australian Students Walk Out to Protest Pauline Hanson on August 13

Thousands of high school and university students across Australia skipped class on Thursday, August 13, to protest Pauline Hanson and the One Nation party. The nationwide walkout, organised by the National Union of Students, saw rallies in every capital city plus Wollongong and Newcastle. One Nation’s primary vote has climbed to 26% in recent polls, alarming young voters who say the party threatens their future on immigration, education funding, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Why students walked out despite warnings

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll urged students to stay in class and protest on weekends instead. Students ignored the calls. Melbourne high school student Jules Arpula said there was “nothing more important” to do on Thursday. Organisers said the purpose was to build the anti-Hanson movement to a scale that can contest the far-right’s dominance. Perth student Sadie told the crowd: “When an injustice is happening, we are the ones who will live with it. We will graduate into a world which hates us.”

One Nation’s rising support among voters

One Nation’s primary vote has ballooned in the last 12 months. A Roy Morgan poll in early August put the party at 26% primary support. Among voters aged 18 to 29, however, One Nation drew only 21% support, behind Labor at 26%. In June, Hanson delivered her first National Press Club address, calling for a “monocultural” Australia and saying immigration has driven the country into a “state of crisis.” Hanson responded on social media, telling students they should protest the cost-of-living crisis instead.

Scale of the August 13 protests

South Australian police estimated 2,000 high school and university students walked out in Adelaide alone, with students from at least 46 schools attending. Rallies took place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong, and Newcastle. In Melbourne, students marched along Swanston Street and on the steps of the State Library of Victoria. In Sydney, hundreds gathered at Town Hall. One protester told 3AW that far more high schoolers than university students joined the demonstrations.

Student concerns about Hanson’s record

National Union of Students general secretary Akash Nagarajan said Hanson has voted against free TAFE, increasing funding for public schools, and reducing student debt. Students held signs reading “no to Hanson,” “We need diversity,” and “We’re skipping our lessons to teach you one.” Year 8 student Kaylee presented their mother with a four-page essay to justify missing school. “People of a different race shouldn’t lose their rights,” Kaylee said. “And queer people have already had a lot of issues with fighting for their rights.”

Hanson’s political history

Hanson first entered federal Parliament in 1996 as an independent member. She founded One Nation in 1997. In July 1998, thousands of high school students staged a national walkout against her in eight cities. At the October 1998 federal election, Hanson lost her seat, leaving One Nation with no lower house seats. She was elected to represent Queensland in the Senate in 2016.

Final Thoughts

The August 13 walkouts mark the largest student protest against Hanson since 1998, driven by One Nation’s climb to 26% primary vote support. With Victoria holding a state election soon and the party running candidates, youth mobilisation signals generational resistance to the party’s immigration and education policies.

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