Pauline Hanson website diverted to surprising page in online prank
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been the target of a prank after her personal website was hijacked by internet trolls.
It is understood the Queensland Senator’s domain name, www.paulinehanson.com.au, had expired and somebody managed to secure the rights for the Refugee Council of Australia
Ms Hanson had been attempting to re-register the website when people noticed it was redirecting to the Refugee Council’s website on Friday morning.
The right-wing Senator has long been outspoken about refugees and immigration issues.
In 2016 during her first speech after returning to politics, she called for an immigration ban.
“I call for a halt to further immigration,” she told the Australian Senate at the time.
“If you are not prepared to become Australian and give this country this undivided loyalty, obey our laws and respect our country and way of life, then I suggest you go back to where you came from.”
In 2018 she also unveiled plans to push for a plebiscite on Australia’s immigration levels.
It is not yet clear how the Refugee Council of Australia acquired Ms Hanson’s domain name but is believed to be the work of cyber activists.
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The Refugee Council of Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.
The organisation told Yahoo News Australia it had no knowledge of, or involvement in the change of domain name.
“We assume it’s a prank. However we welcome the off chance that Senator Hanson has changed her mind on refugee policy,” the Refugee Council of Australia said.
Just a PSA that One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson's domain name expired and has been... repurposed. https://t.co/uRjMN7c53b
— Isobel Roe (@isobelroe) January 14, 2021
‘This is brilliant’: People praise Pauline Hanson prank
Dozens of people shared news of the prank on Twitter on Friday morning, with one describing it as “brilliant”.
“Pauline Hanson’s domain name expired and some legend re-purposed it,” he wrote.
“Nothing has ever brought me more pleasure than finding out what happened to Pauline Hanson’s website this morning,” another said.
“That’s some class work right there. Whoever organised that two things – 1. I salute you and 2. You will go far,” a third added.
Oh this is brilliant. Pauline Hanson's domain name expired and some legend re-purposed it.
Check it out https://t.co/fe3kyDina1— Tom Lee Christen (@tomleechristen) January 14, 2021
The prank comes three years after Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s personal website was taken over by trolls in 2018.
The “take-over” was active for more than 12 hours and played a lewd rock song called “Scotty Doesn’t Know”.
Yahoo News Australia has contacted Pauline Hanson for comment.
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