One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has doubled down on her pledge to abolish SBS, telling one of the broadcaster’s senior journalists she would be “without a job” if her party ever formed government.
The heated exchange unfolded at the National Press Club after Hanson announced that SBS would be scrapped entirely under a One Nation government, while the ABC would face major cuts and be shifted toward a subscription-based model.
Arguing that SBS had outlived its purpose, Hanson said the internet had “overtaken the need for it” and questioned why taxpayers should continue funding the multicultural broadcaster.
Moments later, SBS chief political correspondent Anna Henderson challenged Hanson over the proposal, noting that SBS provides Australian news in 60 languages and serves culturally diverse communities across the country.
“You have said you want to abolish the SBS,” Henderson told Hanson.
“But the SBS is providing Australian news in 60 languages, not international news alone.”
Hanson dismissed the argument, saying Australians already had access to a wide range of commercial and digital news services.
“We’ve got Seven, Nine, Ten … and then you’ve also got the other forms of internet as well. Sky’s great to go and look for news.”
When Henderson pressed further on the broadcaster’s multilingual services, Hanson replied bluntly:
“Look, I can understand your question. You’re going to be without a job.”
The comment drew immediate attention, with critics accusing Hanson of targeting public broadcasters as part of a broader culture war agenda.
Hanson later defended her position, arguing that migrants should be encouraged to learn English rather than rely on news services in other languages.
“I want them to be able to learn to speak English before they get here to get their citizenship and that would help them assimilate into our society,” she said.
“We are a monocultural nation, not a multicultural one, and our language is English.”
While SBS would be abolished under One Nation’s proposal, Hanson said the ABC would remain but in a significantly reduced form. The party has previously proposed converting much of the national broadcaster into a user-pays subscription service while retaining regional and rural services.
Asked what would happen to the more than $1.5 billion currently allocated to the ABC and SBS, Hanson said the money could be redirected to pressing social issues.
“There’s a hell of a lot to be done,” she said, pointing to homelessness and poverty as priorities for future spending.
The proposal is likely to reignite debate over the role of publicly funded media in Australia, with SBS and the ABC arguing they provide essential services that commercial outlets do not, particularly for multicultural, regional and remote communities.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
