Key facts
- Pauline Hanson stated domestic violence is a "two-way street" and questioned why women do not leave abusive relationships.
Pauline Hanson's recent comments suggesting domestic violence is a "two-way street" and questioning why women don't leave abusive relationships are not a gaffe but a consistent theme reflecting her political alignment with anti-feminist groups and her party's platform.
Pauline Hanson's persistent public statements on domestic violence, which align with fringe men's rights groups and contradict expert consensus, are gaining traction as her political party achieves greater influence, potentially shaping public discourse and policy on a critical social issue.
Pauline Hanson, leader of Australia's One Nation party, has drawn criticism for her recent comments suggesting domestic violence is a "two-way street" and questioning why women do not leave abusive relationships. These remarks, labelled "dangerous" by experts, are not seen as a political misstep but rather a consistent reflection of her long-held views and her party's alignment with anti-feminist and men's rights groups.
Hanson's political resurgence since 2016 has been partly built on alliances with anti-feminist men and influenced by domestic violence allegations against her son, Adam Hanson, which she denies. She has previously used parliamentary privilege to accuse her former daughter-in-law of making false claims and has consistently argued, contrary to expert evidence, that women routinely fabricate violence allegations to gain an advantage in the family law system. In 2017, she stated women "throw them [domestic violence orders] around left, right and centre," and in 2021, she claimed "lies and perjury" in the family law system contribute to male suicides and female murders. The figure of "21 men" dying by suicide, frequently cited by Hanson and her colleague Malcolm Roberts, originates from the men's rights organisation the Australian Brotherhood of Fathers (ABF), a group that has claimed to receive donations from One Nation and with whom Roberts has maintained close ties.
Experts refute the notion that women fabricate violence claims against men. Following the 2019 election, Hanson's support was crucial for the Morrison government, leading to her request for a family law inquiry where she acted as deputy chair. This inquiry became a platform for groups pushing unsupported claims that the system is biased against men. During hearings in March 2020, shortly after the murders of Hannah Clarke and her children, Hanson questioned expert witness Professor Zoe Rathus, who stated that domestic violence is "very gendered" and predominantly perpetrated by men against women. Hanson's recent comments, made amidst further alleged domestic violence homicides, have intensified backlash due to One Nation's growing political influence.