High school students participated in coordinated protests across the country, joining university union members to demonstrate against Senator Pauline Hanson. The National Union of Students organized the events, distributing materials that characterized the senator’s political positions as far-right and racist. During the demonstrations, speakers highlighted concerns regarding Hanson’s recent associations, specifically referencing her travel and meetings with high-profile figures like Gina Rinehart and Donald Trump.

Senator Hanson responded to the protests via social media. She argued that the students’ time would be better spent focusing on economic issues, specifically citing the current cost-of-living crisis and stagnant national wages as more pressing concerns than her political activities. While the protests were framed by organizers as a stand against racism and right-wing ideology, Hanson’s response attempted to shift the narrative toward economic grievances, suggesting the students were prioritizing political theater over tangible financial hardships facing the country.