One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has shared a pitch from a Seven producer urging her to travel to Britain to meet Nigel Farage and film a Spotlight special highlighting so-called 'uncontrolled immigration'. The email, posted to social media, also suggested Seven might cover some travel costs and that the program wanted Reform UK leader Farage to invite Hanson to Britain.
Pitch details and language
The current affairs program strongly endorsed an anti-immigration position, stating they had the facts to prove 'the backbone of our story'. The email used the phrase 'uncontrolled immigration' seven times. Senior producer Luke Mortimer said the program would 'illustrate the strain uncontrolled immigration is placing on our infrastructure' and demonstrate what Australia allegedly faces 'if we don't take back control of who comes to our country'.
Hanson's reaction to the broadcast
Despite the sympathetic approach in the pitch, Hanson was grilled by reporter Liam Bartlett about her meeting with Tommy Robinson, a man with violent criminal convictions considered too extreme for Farage's party. In the Facebook post, Hanson asked followers 'if last night's show reflects their pitch?'
Bartlett told viewers Hanson was supposed to meet Farage, but the meeting was overtaken by events when he resigned from the UK parliament and called a byelection amid financial scrutiny.
Seven's response
Seven confirmed it was a Spotlight pitch but distanced itself from the leaked email, saying it was one of hundreds of communications between Seven and Hanson's team. The email implied Seven would fund Hanson's travel, but Seven denied this. A spokesperson said: 'There have been extensive, if not hundreds of emails, phone calls and messages over more than six months to organise this Spotlight special... Spotlight is proud to have produced a balanced piece of journalism.'
Content of the pitch
The email repeated One Nation and anti-immigration talking points, claiming many Australians are unhappy with immigration levels. It noted: 'Many Australians would be shocked to know our figures are already further down the line – 38.1% of Greater Sydney was born overseas. Council areas such as Strathfield have a population of almost 60% that was born overseas.'
The program proposed taking Farage and Hanson to Bournemouth, which it claimed 'has seen a surge of more than 50% of foreign-born residents, thousands of which are being housed in hotels at the taxpayers expense'. Instead, the program filmed Hanson and Robinson walking through Luton, which has a significant Muslim population.
Hanson's on-camera comments
On camera, Hanson said: 'I hate seeing the burqa. These women covered up, I can't stand it … I don't want this happening in Australia.' Bartlett also asked about 'mass deportation', to which Hanson replied: 'Oh, I love it,' but clarified she was targeting 'the ones who are here illegally in the country'.
Defense from Barnaby Joyce
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce defended Hanson's decision to meet Robinson on ABC's 7.30. He acknowledged Robinson had done 'some things' that were 'basically against the law' but said Hanson was not 'condoning of every action of Tommy Robinson. I don't think that was ever said'.
