The Australia Desk · Story 7

“Migrants Don’t Speak English Good,” Hanson Slurs To Press Club

Senator Pauline Hanson reportedly told the National Press Club that migrants 'don’t speak English good'. The event was covered by satirical outlet The Shovel and attracted nearly 3,700 upvotes on the r/australia subreddit, with 380 comments.

The incident highlights ongoing political debates about immigration, language standards, and the age and fitness of federal politicians. It also reflects how public figures’ remarks can be quickly scrutinised and satirised online.

Key details

• Senator Pauline Hanson spoke at the National Press Club, where she was quoted as saying 'Migrants Don’t Speak English Good'.
• The story was published by The Shovel, a satirical Australian news website.
• The post on r/australia received 3,616 upvotes and 380 comments within a day.
• The top-voted comment jokingly suggested Hanson, aged 72, may be 'un-learning english' herself.

Discussion angles

• Many commenters questioned Hanson’s own English proficiency, noting grammatical errors in her statement.
• Several users called for an age cap on federal politicians, arguing older representatives are disconnected from modern challenges.
• One commenter contrasted migrants’ language skills with poor grammar and spelling seen in local Facebook groups.
• A top comment referenced a 'Simpsons' line ('Me fail English? That's unpossible') to mock the remark.