Pauline Hanson’s two-way street violence remarks condemned

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has sparked widespread condemnation from anti-violence advocates, political opponents, and survivors after stating that domestic violence is a "two-way street" and suggesting victims should not "put up with it." The comments were made during a radio interview with Brisbane's 4BC on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and were defended by Hanson in a subsequent social media post.

In the interview, Hanson said domestic violence was "wrong" but attributed the crisis to societal pressures, including cost-of-living stresses. "I'm not saying that it's just men - women can lose their cool as well," she said. "Society is under so much pressure... everyone is under so much pressure and it's really hard. I don't think we communicate enough with each other." She added that she had personal experience, stating, "I've been through it myself in my life," and concluded, "if you're not in a house where you feel safe... then you shouldn't put up with it."

The remarks were swiftly criticized as victim-blaming and a dangerous oversimplification of domestic violence. Anti-violence campaigner Tarang Chawla, whose sister was murdered by her husband in 2015, called Hanson's...