Australian country music icon John Williamson has taken aim at Pauline Hanson in a pair of cheeky open letters criticising the One Nation leader’s anti-immigration rhetoric and stance on national identity.
The letters, which were photographed and shared on Williamson’s official Facebook page on Sunday, saw the veteran musician argue immigration had “strengthened “improved” Australian society and culture.
The ARIA Hall of Fame inductee and 27-time Golden Guitar winner said multiculturalism had transformed life in regional Australia, including its food scene.
“Even your fish ‘n chip shop concept was brought here by the Greeks,” Williamson wrote.
“In Sydney, there would not be one restaurant we know that is not owned or served by those you seem to despise. What are you holding on to?
“None of us really own Australia. We simply earn the privilege to be a part of it.”
In a second letter, Williamson addressed Senator Hanson’s criticism of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags being displayed alongside the Australian flag.
“You are really bothered by the fact we seem to have two or three flags representing our country. I am really bothered by that too. So why don’t we have a flag that brings us all together?” he wrote.
“The current National British ensign that racists wrap themselves in surely doesn’t do the job.”
Williamson has previously spoken out against far-right political movements in Australia, particularly when his music is used for nationalist causes.
In 2025, he publicly condemned the March for Australia rallies, events widely reported to have links to neo-Nazi groups despite denials from organisers.
“True Blue is a song for all Australian and should not be hijacked by any group that seeks to use the song to sow division,” he said at the time.
“I believe in a multicultural society – one where all Australians come together in unity to celebrate our unique multicultural nature and freedoms.”
Senator Hanson has built much of her political profile on anti-immigration policies and comments about multiculturalism dating back to her maiden parliamentary speech in 1996, when she claimed Australia was “in danger of being swamped by Asians”.
