Perth Protest Latest Live News: Thousands of high school and university students gathered at Forrest Place in Perth CBD on Thursday, August 13, as part of a nationwide student protest against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and the party’s policies. The Perth event was one of several demonstrations organised under the banner “Students Say No to Hanson.”
The nationwide action was organised by the National Union of Students (NUS), with students in multiple Australian cities joining the walkouts. Organisers said the protests were aimed at opposing what they described as One Nation’s racist and divisive political agenda.
Perth Protest Today: Why Are Students Protesting Pauline Hanson?
The students are protesting against the rise of One Nation and what organisers describe as the party’s racist, divisive and far-right policies. Student organisers have also raised concerns about issues including education funding, workers’ rights, housing and the cost of living. The NUS has specifically criticised Hanson’s record on education, including her opposition to measures such as free TAFE and increased funding for public schools. The Perth protest was scheduled for 1pm to 3pm at Forrest Place, with the event forming part of the nationwide day of action.
Perth Student Protest: What Are Their Key Demands?
The protesters’ central message is opposition to Pauline Hanson and One Nation. Their broader demands and concerns include:
- Opposition to racism and discrimination: Student organisers say they want to challenge political rhetoric they believe targets migrant and minority communities.
- A more inclusive Australia: Protesters have called for a future that is not shaped by racist or divisive politics.
- Better education support: Student groups have raised concerns about public education funding and policies affecting schools and tertiary education.
- Action on cost-of-living pressures: Economic pressures affecting young people and their families have also featured in the wider student campaign.
- Youth participation in politics: Organisers argue that students should have a voice on political issues that will affect their future.
The protest is therefore not simply focused on a single policy. It represents a broader student campaign against One Nation’s political direction and its growing electoral support.
Perth Protest Latest Live News: What Did Students Say?
At the Perth demonstration, students criticised the idea that young people should remain politically silent until they reach voting age. A Perth Hills high school student named Sadie, who was among the speakers at the event, said high school students were encouraged to stay silent, to stay to the back until they are 18, like voting once every three years is a privilege to look forward to.
She also said, “We are meant to watch our schools lose funding, a genocide unfold, and the cost of living go up exponentially. And you just want us to finish our maths homework.” Sadie argued that students have historically played an important role in political protests and said young people would ultimately live with the consequences of decisions made today.
She also rejected claims that students were simply skipping school or had been influenced by teachers. “We are not fighting on behalf of an organisation or as a means to skip school. We are not stupid kids wanting to sit at the adult table. We believe in getting Hanson’s fascist ideas out of our country,” she said.
Perth Protest Latest Live News: How Did Pauline Hanson Respond?
Pauline Hanson criticised the student walkouts and said schools should focus on teaching students how to form their own views. In a post on social media, Hanson said schools should “teach young Australians how to think, not what to think”.
She also urged young people to focus their attention on economic pressures, writing, “If you want to protest something, protest why your parents’ wages are going backwards and the cost of everything is going up,”
Hanson added, “The Labor Greens government is selling out your future, and you’ll inherit a weaker, poorer and less safe country. Whether you know it or not, One Nation and I are fighting for you.”
Perth Protest Latest Live News: Politicians Question Student Participation
The protests have also triggered criticism from One Nation figures and other politicians. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce accused “socialist” and “left-wing” teachers of encouraging students to join demonstrations against the party. He argued that students should be in school rather than participating in political protests.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare also encouraged students to remain in class and suggested that those wishing to demonstrate could do so outside school hours.
The debate has consequently expanded beyond One Nation’s policies to questions about student political participation, school attendance and the role of teachers in political education.
Perth Protest Latest Live News: What Happens Next?
The Perth demonstration is part of a coordinated national campaign involving students in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle.
Student organisers say they intend to continue speaking out against what they regard as racist and divisive politics, while Hanson and her supporters have defended One Nation’s policies and questioned the political influence behind the protests.
For Perth, the key issue remains the growing political engagement of young Australians and their opposition to One Nation as the party gains greater attention in national politics.
