What did Barnaby Joyce say about Pauline Hanson’s interview with Tommy Robinson?
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has tried to defend party leader Pauline Hanson’s decision to meet far-right convicted criminal Tommy Robinson during a recent visit to the UK. Hanson and her colleagues have spent recent days highlighting parts of the One Nation leader’s trip to Europe, including a podcast interview with Robinson.
On ABC’s 7.30 program last night, Joyce first acknowledged Robinson had done “some things” that were “basically against the law” but went on to blame a “form of Balkanisation, where there’s not an assimilation” for “massive problems, and we saw that in Bondi”.
Why did the ABC interviewer challenge Joyce?
The host, Sarah Ferguson, put to Joyce that Hanson was effectively endorsing a man with an extensive criminal record, who had been condemned by UK authorities for encouraging race riots and retribution against minorities.
“My question to you, Barnaby Joyce, is: is that not a red line?”
“I believe that there is not a condoning of every action of Tommy Robinson.
I don’t think that was ever said.”
During the interview, Joyce also said that he did not know who had bankrolled Hanson’s trip.
What else was said in the live blog introduction?
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Steph Convery with the main action.
We start with Barnaby Joyce’s rather unusual interview with the ABC’s 7.30 last night, in which he attempted to defend some of the more controversial aspects of his leader’s trip to Europe, in particular Pauline Hanson’s podcast with Tommy Robinson, while simultaneously trying to fend off an apparently misbehaving dog.
Key Facts
- Barnaby Joyce defended Pauline Hanson’s decision to meet Tommy Robinson during a recent visit to the UK.
- Joyce appeared on ABC’s 7.30 program last night.
- Sarah Ferguson questioned whether Hanson’s actions were an endorsement of Robinson.
- Joyce said he did not know who had bankrolled Hanson’s trip.
- The live blog introduction was delivered by Martin Farrer, with Steph Convery to follow.
