Pauline Hanson levels lawsuit at Lidia Thorpe and Today show
Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, has initiated defamation proceedings against Senator Lidia Thorpe and Channel Nine’s Today show after being described as “a convicted racist” during a live television interview.
Legal letters sent to both parties demand immediate apologies and retractions, claiming the statement is false and defamatory.
Hanson’s legal team, represented by barrister Sue Chrysanthou and solicitor Anthony Jeffries, has labelled the situation “highly irresponsible” and warned of further legal action if the demands are not met.
In the letter to Senator Thorpe, Hanson’s lawyers argue, “You alleged during that interview that Senator Hanson has been convicted of racism. That never occurred.” They insist no criminal conviction of that nature exists and called on Thorpe to issue a public correction.
The dispute arises in the wake of a Federal Court ruling earlier this month, where Hanson was found to have racially vilified Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi. The ruling stemmed from a 2022 social media post in which Hanson told Senator Faruqi to “pack your bags and p*ss off back to Pakistan”. Justice Angus Stewart described the tweet as an “angry personal attack” that conveyed “a strong form of racism”.
Hanson has appealed the court's decision, arguing that the statement did not target Faruqi’s race, religion or ethnicity and should not be classified as racist. Her legal team claims the tweet was directed solely at Senator Faruqi and was not reflective of broader discrimination. They further argue that the original judgment misinterpreted the context of the remarks.
In the same Today show interview, Senator Thorpe also described Australia as “a very racist, divided country”. Thorpe has not yet publicly addressed Hanson’s legal warning.
Hanson, whose supporters have donated nearly $700,000 to fund her legal efforts, appears ready for a protracted legal battle. Her legal filings challenge the broader interpretations of offensive speech and the legal thresholds for defamation and racial vilification.
Images: Today Show