Pauline Hanson has lashed out at a young female reporter just weeks after calling a journalist a ‘nasty b***h’ and ejecting media from One Nation events.
The One Nation leader clashed with 9News Perth reporter Sophie Fenna on Wednesday after she approached Hanson in the baggage claim area at Perth Airport and asked a series of questions.
‘Why didn’t you fly in Gina (Rinehart)’s jet?’ Fenna asked Hanson, referring to the Cirrus G7 private plane gifted to her by Mrs Rinehart last month.
Hanson sighed in apparent frustration before Fenna smiled and fired off a follow up question.
‘Did you fly cattle class?’
A male member of Hanson’s team can be heard calling Fenna’s question ‘dumb’ before Hanson lashed out.
‘I’m not answering your stupid questions,’ Hanson said.
‘Get some credibility about you as a journalist and learn respect.’
The One Nation leader clashed with 9News Perth reporter Sophie Fenna on Wednesday after she approached Hanson in the baggage claim area at Perth Airport and asked a series of questions
‘Why didn’t you fly in Gina (Rinehart)’s jet?’ Fenna asked Hanson, referring to the Cirrus G7 private plane gifted to her by Ms Rinehart last month – before asking if Hanson flew cattle class
Fenna appeared visibly shocked by Hanson’s response and did not ask any further questions
Fenna appeared visibly shocked by Hanson’s response and did not ask any further questions.
Hanson’s team is now seeking an apology from Fenna.
‘This is why mainstream media have lost much of the respect from the public,’ a spokesperson for Hanson said.
‘As far as I’m aware the young journalist in question hasn’t apologised to Senator Hanson.’
Fenna holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in public relations and marketing and earned a graduate diploma in broadcasting in 2024 from Edith Cowan University, according to her 9News profile.
She worked as a reporter with 7News in Cairns after graduating before returning to WA this year to join 9News.
The Daily Mail has contacted Fenna for comment.
The clash is not the first time the party leader has taken aim at the media.
Sophie Fenna (pictured) holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in public relations and marketing and earned a graduate diploma in broadcasting in 2024 from Edith Cowan University, according to her 9News profile
Guardian Australia is banned from future One Nation events and press conferences after the outlet admitted that some of its photographs make One Nation leader Pauline Hanson appear more ‘sinister’.
The party leader also ejected ABC journalists from a press conference ahead of the Farrer by-election in May.
Hanson’s chief-of-staff James Ashby was seen on camera removing ABC regional journalists from a campaign event.
That same month, Hanson was caught on camera calling a woman a ‘nasty b***h’ just moments after her male media advisor told a female reporter to ‘shut up’.
One Nation politician Barnaby Joyce has defended Hanson’s decision to accept the private plane, despite criticism from the Albanese government.
‘I’m always flummoxed how travelling on the taxpayer’s dime is morally correct, but on a supporter’s dime covers for a maligned purpose,’ he said.
Joyce argued that politicians can face constant lobbying on commercial flights, citing his own experiences as justification for private air travel.
‘I’ve never been on a plane where somebody has asked me for anything, except when I’m sitting next to them on Qantas,’ he said.
‘But apparently if you’re sitting next to someone, no matter how tightly you’ve pulled the headphones over your head, they insist on talking to you to tell you what they want.’