I’ve been cynical about politics for a long time, especially when it comes to Australian attitudes to racism and immigration. The latter has always been the favourite scapegoat of rightwing politicians to blame for anything they don’t want to meaningfully address through policy – house prices rising? Unemployment rates too high? Economic inequality growing? It’s because of all those foreigners, obviously, coming here to steal jobs, houses and food right out of the mouths of “Aussie families”. It’s so predictable it’s almost boring.

But I will admit that even my hardened black heart was dismayed to see the recent polls that show a rise in popularity for One Nation. While I know that the factors driving poll outcomes are complex, it is gutting to see Australians falling for the same rubbish 30 years after I thought we were done with Pauline Hanson for good.

I grew up in the mid-90s in country New South Wales, having arrived in 1992 as a first generation immigrant, and Hanson’s initial rise to political notoriety is a core memory from my childhood. It is the first time I remember consciously realising that my family and I were not necessarily welcome in Australia, and that........

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