Hundreds protest Pauline Hanson in Perth as WA Labor seats targeted
Around 400 people rallied against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson at a sundowner event in Perth's eastern suburbs. Hanson released the list of Labor seats targeted in Western Australia. State police set up a wide security cordon.
According to ABC News Perth correspondent Charlotte Hamlyn, demonstrators gathered outside the donor event Hanson attended in Bayswater. State police closed seven streets to traffic; no physical contact was reported. Hanson announced nine Labor seats in Western Australia constituencies as targets for the current federal parliament.
A spokesperson for Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said local residents had exercised their right to protest after the event. ABC data showed sundowner attendance was about 300 people. At the meeting Hanson, joined by Liberal federal MP Adam Hawkes, spoke on immigration and energy policy. Debate over the federal election timetable continues, and the federal government has yet to announce a date.
The Westpac Political Risk Index projects national populist party support to 14 percent. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking in Canberra, described Hanson's targeting strategy as tense political rhetoric and called on Liberal leader Sussan Ley to give a clear answer to her coalition partner. Bayswater Mayor Filomena Piffaretti said the local liveability survey would be repeated.
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