GREENS AND SOCIALISTS TARGET SEVEN WEST MEDIA OVER PAULINE HANSON FORUM!

Protesters rally outside Crown Perth, accusing media moguls of manufacturing support for One Nation ahead of the Secret Harbour by-election.

Wade McColl (21/07/2026)

Greens MLC Sophie McNeill, activists and community members gather outside Crown Perth with protest banners. Photo supplied by WA Greens.

An intense demonstration unfolded outside Crown Perth on Monday morning as Greens members and WA Socialists gathered to protest The West Australian's Leadership Matters Forum featuring One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Organisers declared the rally was designed to send a firm message against the platforming of far-right politics in Western Australia, specifically targeting mainstream media coverage ahead of the crucial August 29 Secret Harbour by-election.

Protesters Rally Outside Crown Perth

Greens MLC Sophie McNeill speaking during the morning rally. Photo supplied by WA Greens.

Greens MLC Sophie McNeill addressed the crowd on Wadjuk Noongar land, acknowledging long-time activists such as Annie Esther and thanking co-organisers from the WA Socialists for unifying the progressive movement.

"The Greens and the WA Socialists have organised today's protest to make it really clear that Pauline Hanson and her hate is not welcome here in Perth," McNeill stated. "This level of hate, discrimination, racism, bigotry, Islamophobia: it’s not normal, and we’re not going to let it be normalised."

"We will never let this kind of disgusting, racist politics just be presented like it's some kind of normal mainstream party. We will not stand for this, never, not on our watch."

- Sophie McNeill, Greens MLC

Calling Out Media Ownership and "Manufactured Consent"

Greens MLC Sophie McNeill speaking to 9 News & ABC News during the morning rally. Photo supplied by WA Greens.

A primary focus of the demonstration was Seven West Media's sponsorship and promotion of Hanson's appearance. Protesters argued that corporate media interests are actively elevating One Nation's political profile across the state.

McNeill specifically highlighted recent corporate investments and editorial decisions across Perth's print and television landscape.

• Corporate Influence: Protesters called out billionaire Gina Rinehart’s recent acquisition of an almost 10 per cent stake in Seven West Media.

• Front-Page Coverage: Speakers criticized the state's sole daily print newspaper for consistently featuring Hanson on page one.

• Bulletin Leads: Protesters pointed to a recent Channel 7 News bulletin that led with a 50-person One Nation branch meeting, labeling the editorial choice as "manufacturing consent 101."

The Secret Harbour By-Election Impact

Community member holding WA Greens activist sign. Photo supplied by WA Greens.

The rally directly linked the Perth breakfast forum to the upcoming political battle in Secret Harbour. With outgoing Labor MP Paul Papalia stepping down, the seat has become a major battleground for minor parties and independents seeking to disrupt the political landscape.

"The West Australian, Channel Seven and Gina Rinehart are gunning for One Nation to win the upcoming by-election in Secret Harbour," McNeill said. "We can see that, and so we’re calling that out."

Organisers argued that media moguls and billionaires are using culture-war politics as a deliberate strategy to divide local communities, turning neighbours against migrants, Muslims, and Indigenous Australians to distract from broader economic inequality.

Uniting Against Far-Right Rhetoric

A diverse group of protesters chanting in unison during the rally. Photo supplied by WA Greens.

Despite the freezing early-morning temperatures, approximately 80 demonstrators turned out to join in chants including, "Hey hey, ho ho, Hanson's hate has got to go!"

Speakers urged progressive voters across the southern suburbs and the broader Perth metropolitan region to build a unified movement against far-right influences backed by corporate interests.

Police Watchful as Election Campaign Intensifies

Western Australia Police officers monitoring the demonstration near the venue entrance, while Greens MLC Sophie McNeill speaks to the crowd. Photo supplied by WA Greens.

A visible police presence monitored the perimeter of Crown Perth throughout the breakfast event to ensure attendees and demonstrators remained separated. No major incidents were reported during the demonstration.

As the August 29 by-election approaches, the confrontation highlights the rising political temperature across Western Australia, with local seats becoming the focal point for broader state and national ideological debates.