Pauline Hanson has lashed out at ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas after the TV host expressed concern One Nation's historic by-election victory 'legitimised' and 'normalised' the party.
During the national broadcaster's Farrer election night coverage, Karvelas singled out the Coalition's decision to direct preferences to One Nation's David Farley ahead of Independent Michelle Milthorpe.
'If they are able to win their first lower house seat, that begins the process of legitimising them,' Karvelas said before the result was confirmed.
'In other electorates where they may run, voters [will think], well, it's happened before, it's normal now. You start normalising something.'
Her remarks drew a sharp backlash from Hanson, who defended her party's mandate and criticised the ABC and other media outlets following the result.
Farley won just under 40 per cent of the primary vote, while the Liberal Party's vote crashed to just 12.4 per cent - down from the 43 per cent recorded by former MP and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley in 2025.
'One Nation won the seat of Farrer with close to 60 per cent of the two-party preferred vote in a democratic election,' Hanson wrote on X.
'Last night the ABC, our $1 billion a year taxpayer-funded national broadcaster, implied that One Nation was an illegitimate political party.'
Patricia Karvelas (pictured) said One Nation was being 'legitimised' by their Farrer victory
Hanson (pictured) said her critics were 'in denial' as she said her supporters were diverse
Hanson also criticised ABC's Insiders program, where she said panellists described One Nation as 'at its core...a racist and bigoted' party.
'The "impartial" ABC failed to challenge or even debate the claim,' she said.
'These people don't get it. We live in a democracy.
'No one except the people of Australia get to decide who is "legitimate" and worthy of representing them in Parliament.'
Her response followed further media criticism, including a Sydney Morning Herald article headlined 'Australia teeters on the brink of a populist uprising led by a longtime racist.'
Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Hanson rejected accusations levelled against her and her party, saying critics were fooling themselves.
'They're in denial actually - that's all they can do, is throw the barbs and say I'm a racist,' she said.
Hanson insisted her support base reflected a wide cross-section of Australian society.
David Farley (right) won the seat of Farrer on Saturday, as the Liberals suffered a major defeat
'A lot of the people around me that are actually migrants and people of all different cultural backgrounds… we look past that because they're so proud to be Australians,' she said.
'They say, Pauline, we support you because we don't want this country to become like the country that we left.'
She accused her critics of acting out of bitterness and pursuing their own agendas.
'They're not picking up my message, they're bitter, bitter people, they really are… I'm pushing that to one side, I'm not interested in that,' she said.
Hanson said she remained focused on her supporters and her party's future.
'I've got too many people out there who've supported me and backed me all the way, and I appreciate that,' she said.
'My aim, my focus is on the people out there, and I'll keep working hard for them and with my team.'
She also predicted longevity for the party and praised its newly-elected MP.
'People say… they won't last long. I'm telling you now, we're going to be here for the long haul,' Hanson said.
'David Farley is going to be a great representative on the floor of parliament with Barnaby Joyce.'