Thousands of Australian Students Protest Against Conservative Leader

Student protesters holding a placard reading, “No to Hanson,” during a protest outside the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 13, 2026. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty ImagesThousands of student took to the streets against the conservative-leaning One Nation and its leader Pauline Hanson despite political leaders urging pupils to stay in class.The “Students Say No to Pauline Hanson” rallies were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Wollongong and Newcastle.Organised by the National Union of Students with backing from left-wing, anti-capitalists and socialist groups, the events drew thousands of university and high school students.In Melbourne, protestors met in front of the State Library of Victoria, where chants of “Pauline Hanson go to Hell” were heard, and “No to Hanson” signs were on display.Student protesters hold placards and chant during a “Students Say No To Hanson” National Protest Day at Town Hall in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 13, 2026. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesStudent protesters hold placards and chant during a “Students Say No To Hanson” National Protest Day at Town Hall in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 13, 2026. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesVictorian Labor Premier Ben Carroll had earlier warned students to remain at school if they wanted to spur real change.“First and foremost, my message to every student is: if you want to change the world, stay at school, focus on what your learning is in the classroom,” he told reporters at a press conference on Aug. 13.“I understand they’re angry with the sentiment and the policies of One Nation, but the best way to change your future in the world is to get an education and to stay in school.”At Sydney Town Hall, students in uniform were seen among protesters holding a banner referring to Hanson as, “I’m Temu Trump.”In Brisbane, students chanted, “Unite, unite, unite to fight the ‘right.’”Ahead of the protests, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said schools should teach young Australians how to think, not what to think.“If you want to protest something, protest why your parents’ wages are going backwards and the cost of everything is going up,” she said.“The Labor Greens government is selling out your future, and you’ll inherit a weaker, poorer and less safe country. Whether you know it or not, One Nation and I are fighting for you.”One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson speaks to the media at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 12, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty ImagesPolitical Reaction to the Events In an X post following the rallies, the conservative-party criticised what it called “left-wing indoctrination” in schools.“Young Australians should be at school learning. And the focus for schools should be on teaching and equipping our young people with the knowledge and skills they need to get ahead,” the party wrote on social media.Conversely, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi also promoted the event, saying in an Instagram video that she hoped participants “made a big sign” and telling them to “have fun.”Meanwhile Victorian Socialists encouraged the walkouts, posting “Shout out to the legends walking out of schools and unis today to protest the far-right, anti-worker, billionaire-backed politics of Pauline Hanson and One Nation.