“Vile and shameful”: WAGEC responds to Pauline Hanson’s comments

Sydney, Australia, 22 July 2026 – In response to comments made today by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson describing domestic violence as “also a two-way street” and saying that women experiencing abuse should “not put up with it”, the following comments can be attributed to Nicole Yade, CEO of Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC):

“Senator Pauline Hanson’s comments today are vile and shameful. She is speaking from a position of privilege and complete misunderstanding that characterises practically every word that leaves her mouth.

“Having experience of domestic and family violence herself, Senator Hanson’s comments are deeply disappointing. Rather than offering empathy and understanding, they reflect a victim-blaming narrative that has no place in conversations about domestic and family violence.

“Facts matter. Violence is gendered. While anyone can experience violence, the majority of domestic and family violence is perpetrated by men against women and children. There is no excuse for abuse, no societal or economic conditions that provide a cover of acceptability to abuse.

“Saying ‘just leave’ ignores proven patterns of behaviour that keep many victim-survivors trapped in abusive relationships. Following an abusive incident, displays of remorse, love bombing, gifts and promises to change often manipulate victims into believing the violence will never happen again. Too often, the cycle then repeats.

“It also ignores a simple reality: you cannot leave if there is nowhere safe to go.

“We see this reality every single day on the frontlines of domestic and family violence. Every night we support 200 women and children in crisis, who turn to us in the absence of anywhere else safe to go.

“It is extraordinary that anyone needs reminding of this, let alone someone who seeks to be a leader of this nation.

“Senator Hanson may never apologise for her senseless comments, but they cannot be allowed to send a message to victim-survivors and those trapped in abusive situations.

“Instead, they must know that they are not at fault, that leaving is harder than anyone could imagine, and that there is a network of support there for them.”

——ENDS——

Media contact:

For more information or to request an interview, contact Maddison Bates-Willis on maddison@wagec.org.au or 0408 384 826.