Tony Abbott backs Pauline Hanson’s High Court racial vilification bid

Tony Abbott, president of the Liberal Party, has publicly endorsed Pauline Hanson's High Court bid to challenge a federal court ruling that found her remarks toward Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi constituted racial vilification under Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. The move comes after the Federal Court upheld the decision that Hanson's comment, telling Faruqi to “piss off back to Pakistan”, breached the law. Abbott, speaking in Toowoomba on August 22, 2026, aligned himself with One Nation on the issue of free speech, stating that Section 18C poses a risk to free expression. He emphasized that the current interpretation of the law allows for potential censorship, even as it continues to be used in cases involving prominent figures. Hanson, who leads the minor party One Nation, announced her intention to seek leave to appeal the ruling to the High Court. Her legal team has spent nearly four years contesting various rulings under Section 18C, during which the party has incurred approximately $800,000 in legal expenses. In a statement, Hanson framed the case not as an effort to shield politicians from accountability, but as a fight for the right of ordinary citizens to engage in political discourse without fear of being silenced. She argued that many Australians hesitate to discuss sensitive topics such as immigration, race, and Indigenous policy due to concerns about being labeled racist or facing legal consequences. Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act prohibits actions that offend, insult, humiliate, or intimidate individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics. The provision has long been a point of contention within Australian politics, particularly among conservatives who view it as overly broad and restrictive. Tony Abbott, who previously attempted to repeal the law as prime minister in 2014, has continued to advocate for its reform. His efforts were met with resistance from both Muslim and Jewish communities, as well as the general public, leading to a reversal of his stance before the election. At the time, he cited the need to preserve national unity as a key factor in his decision. In recent months, the Coalition has faced internal divisions over how to balance free speech with hate speech protections, especially in the wake of the Bondi Beach atrocity. The incident prompted calls for stronger safeguards for Jewish communities, yet it also raised concerns about inadvertently targeting religious groups under broader anti-vilification measures. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, representing the government, criticized the opposition for what he described as an abstract debate on free speech. He questioned whether the Liberal Party believed Australians should be permitted to make more racist statements and urged them to specify which forms of speech they considered acceptable. Burke asserted that the existing legal framework has evolved through years of judicial decisions and does not operate with a “low threshold” for prosecution. He maintained that the current level of hate speech in society is already high, and suggested that further loosening of restrictions could lead to increased polarization rather than resolution. Meanwhile, Abbott and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor have positioned themselves as advocates for free speech, though their support for Hanson’s case appears to be more symbolic than indicative of a broader legislative shift. Legal experts remain divided on the merits of Hanson’s argument. Constitutional law professor Anne Twomey noted that while the case presents a valid legal challenge, the success of such a petition would depend heavily on the High Court’s interpretation of the law. The outcome of the appeal could influence future discussions on the role of hate speech legislation in Australia, particularly as political tensions continue to evolve around issues of identity, immigration, and social cohesion. As the case moves forward, the debate over free speech versus hate speech is likely to intensify, with implications extending beyond the courtroom into the broader political landscape.