New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has criticised One Nation and its leader Pauline Hanson over her ‘monoculture’ dream for Australia.
Hanson told the National Press Club in Canberra in June that Australia cannot be a multicultural society.
But Minns took aim at the idea during a speech for delegates, MPs and government ministers at the NSW Labor conference in Sydney on Saturday.
The premier said Labor would ‘never peddle in the politics of fear’.
‘But delegates, I’m sorry, our task is bigger than that – we must also beat back that darkness at the ballot box,’ he said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Fear is a low-calorie diet – it cannot sustain you, it can’t build a common direction, it can’t shape and grow our community, it offers no vision or purpose.’
Minns also said Labor needs ‘to climb Everest just to stay where we are’ ahead of the state election in March 2027.
‘This campaign will throw everything at us. We’re up against multiple parties, not a single opposition, and it will test us like never before,’ he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns hit out at Pauline Hanson’s monoculture views at the NSW Labor conference in Sydney on Saturday
As Minns entered the conference, two Labor members unfurled a Palestinian flag before security escorted them out and removed the flag
One Nation’s support remains strong despite a slight fall in the latest national Newspoll, dropping two points to 29 per cent
One Nation’s support remains strong despite a slight fall in the latest national Newspoll this week, dropping two points to 29 per cent.
Labor rose three points to 33 per cent of the primary vote, while the Coalition slumped to a record low of 17 per cent.
Minns was not the only one to take aim at One Nation, with federal Labor MP Ed Husic also addressing the party’s success in the polls.
‘If you have a different face, a different surname, there is a place for you in this country,’ he told delegates at the conference.
‘Do not drop your chin in fear.’
Outside the Labor Party proceedings, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to demand police drop all charges in relation to demonstrations against a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in February.
Scrutiny of protest laws and policing in the state has intensified following demonstrations that resulted in clashes between officers and protesters.
The rally was restricted by laws passed following Bondi’s terror attack in December, which have since been struck down in the NSW Supreme Court.
Internal pressure to repeal anti-protest laws has been building among the Labor rank and file, with more than 50 motions passed by party branches and trade unions ahead of the conference.
Despite the containment of the protest outside, two attendees were recorded by a delegate unfolding a Palestinian flag in the conference room as Minns walked in.
The footage shared on social media showed two people escorted out of the event by security as the flag was removed.