Pauline Hanson has made her first ever appearance at the National Press Club of Australia.

The One Nation leader claimed Australia must be 'monocultural' and calls multiculturalism a 'failed policy'. 

Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says Hanson addressed a lot of policies - but in vague terms.

"In the midst of all of it, there was this protest that interrupted the speech, where a banner unveiled from the roof that an activist group called GetUp! have claimed responsibility for - which brings its own series of questions about security." 

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Pauline Hanson has made her first ever appearance at the National Press Club of Australia.
The One Nation leader claimed Australia must be 'monocultural' and calls multiculturalism a 'failed policy'.&nbsp;
Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says Hanson addressed a lot of policies - but in vague terms.
"In the midst of all of it, there was this protest that interrupted the speech, where a banner unveiled from the roof that an activist group called GetUp! have claimed responsibility for - which brings its own series of questions about security."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Charles Croucher: Nine News chief political editor on Pauline Hanson delivering her first National Press Club address

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ee0d7894-dcc5-4ac4-9cb1-b46c0066b0f9/transcript

Fletcher Building has asked ratings agency Moody's to withdraw its credit rating of the company, as it reports continued pressures on its business and looks to cut debt.

The company has Moody's lowest investment grade rating of Baa3 rating, below which is considered a speculative grade and outside the limits for most institutional investment.

Generate investment specialist Greg Smith says the company's been selling assets over the past year and they're looking to simplify the business.

LISTEN ABOVE

Fletcher Building has asked ratings agency Moody's to withdraw its credit rating of the company, as it reports continued pressures on its business and looks to cut debt.
The company has Moody's lowest investment grade rating of Baa3 rating, below which is considered a speculative grade and outside the limits for most institutional investment.
Generate investment specialist Greg Smith says the company's been selling assets over the past year and they're looking to simplify the business.
LISTEN ABOVE

Greg Smith: Generate investment specialist on Fletcher asking for credit rating to be withdrawn

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 17 June.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 17 June. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 17 June 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ae82de2b-1010-4a1a-b3db-b46c0076b91e/transcript

Now, unfortunately, because it is an election year, we are apparently going to have the debate that we have every single election year: should we set up a special unit that costs each party's election promises independently?

And the answer to that question should be the same as it always is - no, we should not do this.

There is no point in doing it. This unit will not be independent. It will be stacked with the same people who stack the public service - predominantly left-leaning public servants who will overestimate what a capital gains tax will bring in because they like a capital gains tax and who will underestimate the benefits of cutting red tape because they are the red tape.

To believe this unit's numbers, you would first have to believe Treasury’s numbers because it is probably people from Treasury who will go and work in a unit like this.

If you believe Treasury, here’s a word of advice: go outside at midday with a stick and a string and see what the spirits tell you is going to happen in the future - because that is about how useful Treasury’s numbers are.

If you want to know what a biased referee looks like in an election year, this is it: an 'independent' costings unit.

If we were to set this thing up, all we would end up doing is the same thing we already do with Treasury numbers - arguing all the time about whether they’re right or wrong.

Actually, you and I are pretty good arbiters of whether costings add up. We all spotted immediately that Labour’s $65 million for the public transport policy was not enough money. 

We didn’t need an independent unit to tell us that - we looked at it and thought, 'That’s not enough money, mate, you’re going to have to do those numbers again.'

We all knew last election - we talked about it for months - that National had completely overestimated how much money it would get from a foreign buyers’ tax. And were we right? Yes, we were.

We don’t need another unit that costs more money, adds more bureaucracy and is stacked with more bureaucrats and we don’t need another unit to tell us what we can already figure out ourselves.

LISTEN ABOVE

Now, unfortunately, because it is an election year, we are apparently going to have the debate that we have every single election year: should we set up a special unit that costs each party's election promises independently?
And the answer to that question should be the same as it always is - no, we should not do this.
There is no point in doing it. This unit will not be independent. It will be stacked with the same people who stack the public service - predominantly left-leaning public servants who will overestimate what a capital gains tax will bring in because they like a capital gains tax and who will underestimate the benefits of cutting red tape because they are the red tape.
To believe this unit's numbers, you would first have to believe Treasury’s numbers because it is probably people from Treasury who will go and work in a unit like this.
If you believe Treasury, here’s a word of advice: go outside at midday with a stick and a string and see what the spirits tell you is going to happen in the future - because that is about how useful Treasury’s numbers are.
If you want to know what a biased referee looks like in an election year, this is it: an 'independent' costings unit.
If we were to set this thing up, all we would end up doing is the same thing we already do with Treasury numbers - arguing all the time about whether they’re right or wrong.
Actually, you and I are pretty good arbiters of whether costings add up. We all spotted immediately that Labour’s $65 million for the public transport policy was not enough money.&nbsp;
We didn’t need an independent unit to tell us that - we looked at it and thought, 'That’s not enough money, mate, you’re going to have to do those numbers again.'
We all knew last election - we talked about it for months - that National had completely overestimated how much money it would get from a foreign buyers’ tax. And were we right? Yes, we were.
We don’t need another unit that costs more money, adds more bureaucracy and is stacked with more bureaucrats and we don’t need another unit to tell us what we can already figure out ourselves.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Do we really need another special unit that costs more money?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/744a1391-0ff7-4975-aa06-b46c0077f61b/transcript

Charles Croucher: Nine News chief political editor on Pauline Hanson delivering her first National Press Club address

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