Pauline Hanson’s speech sparks flurry of backlash online

PAULINE Hanson’s offer to drive immigrants to the airport has sparked a flurry of interest online, with some others keen to save on a costly cab.

Senator Pauline Hanson began her first speech in 20 years with “I’m back”. Picture: Gary Ramage

PAULINE Hanson’s Senate speech has sparked a flurry of interest online — with some keen to take her up on the offer of a free ride to the airport.

The Queensland Senator used her first speech in 20 years to call for a ban on Muslim immigration, limit child benefits for mothers with more than one child and offered to personally drive any immigrants to the airport.

Journalist Nate Cochrane saw the funny side and tweeted: “[Pauline Hanson] already has a well paying job; don’t tell me she's now become an Uber driver too.”

Others were quick to chime in with their upcoming trips saying they could also do with a lift to the airport.

@samanthamaiden Don't the immigrants drive taxis? They're already driving to the airport

— Martin (@MarCNStin) September 14, 2016

@samanthamaiden i'm going to Hawaii over christmas. Think she will give me a lift to the airport?

— Mikey (@Mikey3371) September 14, 2016

@samanthamaiden @theheraldsun I was born here but if she gets the Australia she wants, she can drive me to the airport.

— Heather Boyd (@HevBoyd) September 14, 2016

@PaulineHansonOz already has a well paying job; don't tell me she's now become an @uber driver, too. #racism https://t.co/uZqo5giLMD

— Nate Cochrane (@natecochrane) September 14, 2016

Mariam Veiszadeh said she thought Australia was being “swamped” by magpies and they should be banned, then tweeted: “My coping mechanism right now is humour but honestly, I don’t know how I can endure 6 years of this.”

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon described her speech as “heartbreaking” while others tweeted messages of support for Muslims in Australia.

But One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts backed her views that Islam was “incompatible” with life in Australia.

Ms Hanson said “aggressive multiculturalism” has caused a decline in social cohesion and rise in crime, using statements described as “rampant ignorance” to present simple solutions to complex problems.

The Leader of the Greens Richard Di Natale walked out as part of a pledge to call out racism, he said. Picture: Gary Ramage