Cheeky change to Pauline Hanson’s website after domain expiry

Anyone trying to visit One Nation founder Pauline Hanson’s website today is in for a shock after the domain was snatched up by an unknown buyer.

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson is likely kicking herself after letting the domain name for her website expire after someone took the opportunity to turn the site into something completely different.

The person in charge of the controversial senator’s website failed to notice the expiry date for her domain paulinehanson.com.au had passed – and now it has been bought by someone who had an alternate idea of what it should look like.

People visiting Ms Hanson’s page this morning are being redirected to the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) website instead.

Pauline Hanson’s website domain name has been snapped up by an unknown buyer. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The RCOA is a non-profit organisation that helps support refugees and people seeking asylum and promotes the development of “humane, lawful and constructive policies” towards these groups.

The organisation claimed it wasn’t involved in the domain change, said 10 News First reporter Chloe Bouras.

“We assume it’s a prank. However, we welcome the off chance that Senator Hanson has changed her mind on refugee policy,” an RCOA spokesperson said.

Just a PSA that One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson's domain name expired and has been... repurposed. https://t.co/uRjMN7c53b

— Isobel Roe (@isobelroe) January 14, 2021

The @OzRefugeeCounc says it wasn't involved in redirecting Pauline Hanson's web domain. "We assume it's a prank. However, we welcome the off chance that Senator Hanson has changed her mind on refugee policy." @10NewsFirst

— Chloe Bouras (@ChloeBouras) January 14, 2021

Ms Hanson is outspoken about her strong views on immigration and refugees, with controversial comments on these subjects becoming a theme throughout her political career.

In her first speech to the federal parliament in 1996, she warned Australia was “in danger of being swamped by Asians”.

“I and most Australians want our immigration policy radically reviewed and that of multiculturalism abolished,” she said.

“Between 1984 and 1995, 40 per cent of all migrants coming into this country were of Asian origin. They have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate.

“Of course, I will be called racist but, if I can invite whom I want into my home, then I should have the right to have a say in who comes into my country.”

Then in 2016, Ms Hanson used her maiden speech to parliament as a senator to warn the country was now “in danger of being swamped by Muslims” adding they “bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own”.

She called for a ban on Muslim immigration and claimed Australians would be forced to live under sharia law if the government didn’t act.

“Islam cannot have a significant presence in Australia if we are to live in an open, secular and cohesive society,” she said.

“We have seen the destruction it is causing around the world.”

One Nations Leader Senator Pauline Hanson in a black burqa in the Senate in Parliament House in Canberra, 2017. Picture Gary Ramage

Ms Hanson worse the Islamic traditional outfit as part of her campaign to ban the burqa in Australia. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

As part of one of her most memorable political stunts, Ms Hanson walked into the Senate in 2017 wearing a burqa as part of her campaign to ban the traditional Islamic outfit.

When she finally removed the veil to ask then-Attorney-General George Brandis whether the government could consider banning the burqa she was swiftly shut down.

Mr Brandis blasted Ms Hanson’s offensive display.

“To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its ­religious garments, is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to ­reflect on your behaviour,” he said.

“I’m not going to pretend to ignore the stunt you have tried to pull today by arriving in the chamber dressed in a burqa, when we all know you are not an adherent of the Islamic faith. I would caution and counsel you with respect to be very, very careful of the offence you may do to the religious sensibilities of other ­Australians.”

The One Nation leader has been widely condemned for her comments over the years but has remained undeterred by the continual backlash.