‘White Australia’ has always been a myth. Hanson lamenting its end is wrong - and dangerous
This article critiques Pauline Hanson's recent rhetoric regarding the 'White Australia' policy, arguing that the concept of a purely white Australia is a historical myth. It challenges the narrative that immigration reform in the 1970s was a negative turning point for the nation.
Why it matters
Addresses the resurgence of far-right nationalist discourse in Australian politics and its historical inaccuracies.
Lukas Coch/AAP ‘White Australia’ has always been a myth. Hanson lamenting its end is wrong – and dangerous Published: July 22, 2026 9:28pm EDT https://theconversation.com/white-australia-has-always-been-a-myth-hanson-lamenting-its-end-is-wrong-and-dangerous-288182 https://theconversation.com/white-australia-has-always-been-a-myth-hanson-lamenting-its-end-is-wrong-and-dangerous-288182 Link copied Share article Share article
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The unexpected rise of One Nation in the polls, helped by leader Pauline Hanson’s relationship with mining magnate Gina Rinehart and often uncritical treatment by mainstream media, has seen the reemergence of another historical curio: the White Australia policy.
In a podcast interview with UK far-right figure and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, Hanson declared the origin of her much-discredited claims around “mass migration” was “in 1973 with Gough Whitlam, [who] got rid of the White Australia policy and […] started bringing in different migrants”.
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