Transgender woman left despondent after interaction with Senator Pauline Hanson at Elizabeth City Centre

A transgender woman says she was left despondent after an interaction with Senator Pauline Hanson at an Elizabeth shopping centre.

A transgender woman says she was left despondent after Senator Pauline Hanson told her it was a “choice” to transition, and voiced views that transgender women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sport.

Rebecca Hammond, 46, came across the One Nation leader during a campaign visit to Elizabeth City Centre, where she received an overwhelmingly warm welcome.

But Ms Hammond said Senator Hanson became uncomfortable and quickly ended the conversation after Ms Hammond asked what she would do for transgender people in South Australia.

“She said it’s our choice to be on hormones, but it’s not. We were born this way,” she said.

“I would have liked for her … to offer some extra financial support or even mental support.”

Rebecca Hammond speaks with Pauline Hanson during a walk around at Woolworths Elizabeth Shopping centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Ms Hammond said Senator Hanson also offered that “she agrees with transgender people but she doesn’t agree with transgender people in sport”.

She said it was frustrating that transgender rights had become a political football during the federal election campaign, referring to the controversy surrounding the views of Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves.

Ms Deves has previously compared her anti-trans activism to resistance against the Nazis, but Prime Minsiter Scott Morrison has rejected calls to disendorse her.

The One Nation leader was swamped with supporters – many requesting photos – during her walk through the shopping precinct on Thursday afternoon with Spence candidate Linda Champion and Senate candidate Jennifer Game.

“Super fan” Gage Savage, 23, ran from the nearby Elizabeth Tavern when he heard Senator Hanson was at the centre.

“You’re like Jesus to me,” he told her, before she suggested the pair should hug.

“I voted for you, of course.”

Mr Savage, an electrician from Elizabeth, said he supported Senator Hanson because “her views are exactly what I think”.

Pauline Hanson with Gage Savage outside Elizabeth City Centre on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Senator Hanson suggested the pair should hug after Mr Savage told her “you’re like Jesus to me”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“I stand for the Australians, so does Pauline Hanson,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter whether she worked at a fish and chip shop to start off, I respect that.

“Last election I sent a massive message out to every single Facebook friend that I have, saying ‘please, vote Pauline’.”

Another local supporter, Michael Frawley, brought an Australian flag to the centre to meet Senator Hanson when he found out about her visit through social media.

One Nation is running candidates in every South Australian federal electorate but focusing particularly on the northern suburbs electorate of Spence, where the party polled strongly in the March state election.

“These people feel they’ve been forgotten, left behind and they're not being listened to by the major political parties,” Senator Hanson said.

“They see my passion, they see that I’m not afraid to speak up, they see that I have fought for them on these certain issues.”

Originally published as Transgender woman left despondent after interaction with Senator Pauline Hanson at Elizabeth City Centre