What Happened
On Thursday, 13 August 2026, thousands of school and university students gathered in cities across Australia to protest against Pauline Hanson and the One Nation party. Organised under the banner “Students Say No to Hanson,” these demonstrations represent one of the most significant student-led political actions in recent years. Participants walked out of classrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other regional centres to accuse One Nation of promoting policies and rhetoric they believe divide Australians.
In Melbourne alone, hundreds of high school and university students assembled around Town Hall and outside the State Library. Protesters carried signs opposing racism and chanting messages supporting migrants and multiculturalism. The rallies were coordinated by the National Union of Students alongside various student activist organisations. Demonstrators specifically targeted Hanson’s history, with some carrying signs deriding her former fish and chip shop and others displaying slogans like “racists weren’t welcome here.”
The protests arrived as One Nation receives renewed political attention, making the student response particularly significant. Across the country, demonstrators accused Hanson and One Nation of dividing Australians while simultaneously supporting multiculturalism. The movement is intended to challenge what organisers see as the growing influence of far-right politics in Australia.
The Timeline
The events unfolded on Thursday, 13 August 2026, with reporting describing the scene as “Go to hell” rallies against Hanson. The demonstrations marked a continuation of a long history of student activism; one parent, Chris, noted he remembered walking out of school to strike against Hanson almost 30 years ago. He now stood with his 13-year-old daughter, Charlie, who had never been to such a protest before but was eager to attend.
On Wednesday, 12 August 2026, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare addressed the issue, telling reporters: “If people want to protest on the weekend, then fill your boots, but I want you at school when school is on, learning.” This statement set the stage for the Thursday walkouts, which some students facilitated by persuading parents or receiving permission to skip classes entirely.
The political context was immediate. Hanson used her National Press Club address in June to call for a “monocultural” Australia and appeared on a podcast hosted by British far-right activist Tommy Robinson during a trip to the UK last month. These actions preceded the student walkouts and provided the backdrop for the protests.
Who Said What
Student Kaylee, who is in Year 8 and uses they/them pronouns, explained their motivation simply: “I just don’t think she should be able to make those kinds of choices.” When asked why Hanson should not be in charge, Kaylee stated, “People of a different race shouldn’t lose their rights.”
Year 12 student Corey Zalchendler highlighted the unique position of young voters. “Since people under 18 can’t vote I think they should come out and protest,” Corey said. Their friend added, “We just don’t want these people being in charge of this country, we have to do something to make a change.” The upcoming Victorian state election will be the first time Corey will be able to vote, something they said they were very excited about.
Former Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam told the crowd she was impressed by the turnout, saying, “It gives me hope that we can stop the rise of One Nation.” Conversely, Hanson strongly rejected accusations against her. She argued her critics misrepresent her positions on immigration and national identity. Responding on social media, she said students should instead be protesting against the cost-of-living crisis and stagnant national wage growth.
Hanson condemned the student walkouts and accused left-wing activists and what she described as “socialist” teachers of influencing young people. She argued students should be receiving an education rather than being encouraged to leave school for political demonstrations. Her supporters have made a similar argument, questioning whether teenagers fully understand the policies and political history behind the protests.
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and other political figures also questioned whether students should be encouraged to miss classes to attend demonstrations. That criticism has turned the rallies into a debate about education as much as politics. Questions are now being argued across social media regarding whether students are independently exercising their democratic rights or if political organisations are using schools and universities to recruit young people.
The Numbers That Matter
Hanson’s One Nation primary vote has ballooned in the last 12 months and now sits at 26%, according to the latest Roy Morgan poll. This surge in support is a key driver for the student mobilisation. In Brisbane, a One Nation supporter yelling “Pauline Hanson will save Australia” to a protest crowd of about 200 young people in King George Square was removed and arrested by police officers. Police said the arrest was discontinued, and the man issued with a move-on direction.
The scale of the movement involved thousands of students across the country putting down their textbooks on Thursday, 13 August 2026. The protests were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated national action involving the National Union of Students.
Why This Matters
The rallies have sparked a wider debate about racism, immigration, free speech and whether schools should encourage or discourage young people from taking political action. For the students protesting this week, that history is central to their campaign. They argue young Australians should challenge political movements they believe threaten multiculturalism or discriminate against certain groups.
Students have marched against wars, racism, climate policy and government decisions for generations. Supporters of the protests argue that political participation has historically played an important role in student movements around the world. However, the specific nature of these protests has introduced new complexities regarding the role of educators and parents in facilitating such actions.
One year 9 student told the ABC he had received resistance from teachers before walking out of school, while others said they had received permission from their parents to skip school entirely. This divergence in parental and institutional support highlights the varying degrees of engagement within families and schools.
The protests also intersect with broader cultural conflicts. The owners of a progressive social media page have accused One Nation of impersonating them at anti-Pauline Hanson rallies while shooting a series of “undercover” videos. In one video, a man wearing a pirate outfit was asked by the host: “When was the last time you showered?” Another video featured Hanson herself joking with the host as she asked: “Who have you been hanging around with?”
Toilet Paper Australia last week posted links to One Nation’s volunteer sign-up website, writing: “I’m sure you’d all love to *definitely* show up and *definitely* not miss out and no-show.” These online provocations added fuel to the fire, prompting students to chant “fuck Pauline Hanson” in the background as Yemini started filming on the sidelines.
As the debate continues, the focus remains on whether the student movement represents a genuine grassroots response to perceived political threats or if it is being co-opted by external forces. The involvement of parents like Chris, who admitted he hadn’t mentioned his own past protests until asked, suggests a generational bridge forming between older activists and younger students.
The consensus among organisers remains clear: the movement is intended to challenge what they see as the growing influence of far-right politics in Australia. As Federal Education Minister Jason Clare acknowledged, young Australians have the right to express political views but made clear that students are expected to attend school. The tension between these rights and expectations defines the current landscape of Australian student activism.