Albanese, Minns lead backlash after Pauline Hanson comments as Islamophobia concerns rise

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned comments by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, describing her as "a negative force" in Australian politics, as national attention refocuses on community safety and social cohesion. The Prime Minister said rhetoric that targets religious groups risks deepening division at a time when many communities are already on edge.

The condemnation follows reporting that Albanese linked Hanson's remarks to heightened tension in parts of Sydney, including threats directed at Lakemba Mosque, and urged political debate to return to "respect" rather than provocation. NSW Premier Chris Minns also criticised the comments, describing them as a racist intervention and calling for public discourse that lowers the temperature rather than inflaming it.

Albanese described Hanson's suggestion that there are no "good" Muslims as "a disgrace" that "only serves to create division," reinforcing the government's message that Australians should not be judged collectively for the actions of extremists.

The clash has reignited debate about the responsibilities of elected representatives in public discussion-particularly when national security, social identity and grief are all present in the same news cycle. Political leaders from across the spectrum have increasingly warned that inflammatory language can translate into real-world consequences for people who have nothing to do with violence or hate.

While Hanson has a long history of courting controversy, the latest reaction shows the issue has shifted beyond ordinary parliamentary sparring to a broader argument about social cohesion and civic safety. For the government, the message is that Australians can disagree strongly on policy-immigration, security, multiculturalism-without turning those debates into blanket attacks on communities.