Pauline Hanson 'not backing away' from controversial far-right interview

In short:

Pauline Hanson has defended her podcast appearance alongside controversial far-right UK figure Tommy Robinson.

Senator Hanson lamented the end of the White Australia policy on the program.

What's next?

The One Nation leader says she will be back in Australia "soon" after spending weeks in the UK and Europe, attending a luxury gala in Italy alongside Gina Rinehart.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she does not regret being interviewed by far-right UK figure Tommy Robinson.

During a podcast interview last week with Robinson, Senator Hanson blamed the end of the White Australia policy for migration issues in Australia.

She also suggested, without providing evidence, that Muslim Australians were prominent in rorting the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The One Nation leader's comments have drawn sharp criticism from figures across Labor, the Coalition and the Greens.

During a segment on Seven's Spotlight program, Senator Hanson was filmed recording the podcast and walking with Tommy Robinson through Luton, north-west of London, which has a significant Muslim population.

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a far-right anti-immigration figure in the UK with an extensive criminal record, who has served prison sentences for fraud and assault.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the far-right party Reform UK, has frequently sought to distance himself from Robinson and quit his former UK Independence Party when Robinson joined.

Senator Hanson was asked during the program if appearing alongside Tommy Robinson risked harming her reputation.

"Why wouldn't I talk to the man? Am I going to be judged by all those people — I shouldn't be associating, talking to this man. That's the problem with our society," she told Channel 7.

"I'm not like the other politicians, I will say and do what I want to.

"I will talk to people, to spend time and learn from them about what is happening."

Pushed on whether she was "aligning" herself with Robinson, Senator Hanson defended the decision.

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to back away from this whatsoever," she said.

"I met Tommy and I listened to what he is trying to tell me about what has happened to Britain."

Hanson says she 'doesn't believe' in White Australia policy

Senator Hanson has spent weeks travelling through the UK and Europe, addressing conservative conferences and attending a fashion show in Italy alongside billionaire Gina Rinehart.

She delivered a speech to a half-empty room at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in London, railing against Australia's immigration and environmental policies and telling the crowd the country had "gone woke".

She declined to answer a question from the ABC about who funded her travels to Italy, and avoided speaking to reporters while at the conference.

But in a clip posted to social media, she rejected suggestions she said had been made that she wanted to "introduce the White Australia policy".

"Never ever have I advocated that, and I don't believe in it as well," she said.

But she said it is true that she "doesn't want people from certain countries that wear the burqa".

During the Spotlight interview, Senator Hanson was asked her view on the "concept of mass deportation".

"Oh I love it," she told the network.

She said she has the full support of her colleagues in her support for the idea, but clarified she was targeting "the ones who are here illegally in the country".

One Nation has a listed immigration policy of deporting 75,000 "illegal migrants" including "visa overstayers, illegal workers, and unlawful non-residents".