How the election has turned from sausage, to Hanson, to #AusWaits
Conversation volume over the last 7 days
The big social media story post election is the response to the news of Pauline Hanson’s success in the senate.
Top 5 hashtags: Pre and Post election
News stories featuring Hanson have received a whopping 448,000 social shares.
Social media reactions have been mostly negative.
Australian Muslims have pointed out Hanson’s discriminatory policies.
Australian Muslims now have to face Pauline Hanson in the senate, who has this as official party policy pic.twitter.com/oAu6lk8hC2
— Susan Carland (@SusanCarland) July 2, 2016
The #PaulineHanson fan base is on my back. I love receiving hate mail. Reminds me of why I need to keep tweeting. #ausvotes — Mariam Veiszadeh (@MariamVeiszadeh) July 3, 2016
In spirit of Brexit, some have called for #Quexit.
If Pauline Hanson wins we should have a referendum for a #Quexit. #ausvotes
— Tom Ballard (@TomCBallard) July 2, 2016
What a beautiful nation I call home #Quexit #auspol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/Vkir1oVS7e — Eric (@0127xyz) July 2, 2016
Others have criticised the government for the rise of Hanson and One Nation.
So @TurnbullMalcolm you didn’t give us decent broadband, marriage equality, sensible climate policy or a republic. But we do get Hanson. Thx
— John Birmingham (@JohnBirmingham) July 2, 2016
So the Coalition’s attempt to cleanse the Senate of ‘chaos’ helps bring back the One Nation party. No chaos there. pic.twitter.com/9zWfY6cDi7 — Julia Baird (@bairdjulia) July 2, 2016
Whether it’s a wave of populism in the vain of Trump or Brexit, or whether it’s the sign of an anxious constituency with deeper concerns about the pace of change and jobs, Hanson is likely to intensify the political debate in this country. What we can be sure of is that social media will become the battleground for political conversation and ultimately the Australian identity.