Image: NUS
Thousands of high school and university students are expected to walk out of class today in protest of Pauline Hanson and her party, One Nation.
Organisers of the nationwide action say its purpose is to "build the anti-Hanson movement to a scale that can contest the far-right's dominance".
It comes amid growing support for One Nation, and in advance of a state election in Victoria, where the party is running candidates.
Education Minister Jason Clare has encouraged students to stay at school and move their protest to the weekend.
Pauline Hanson
Hanson first entered federal Parliament in 1996 as an independent member in the House of Representatives.
A year later, she founded the conservative right-wing political party, One Nation.
In July 1998, thousands of high school students staged a national walkout, rallying in eight cities against Hanson.
At the federal election in October that year, Hanson lost her seat, leaving One Nation with no lower house seats, though it did claim one seat in the Senate.
Hanson was elected to represent Queensland in the Senate in 2016.
In June, she delivered her first National Press Club address.
Hanson used the speech to call for a "monocultural" Australia, saying immigration has driven Australia into a "state of crisis."
This year, One Nation has consistently polled well.
RedBridge/Accent Group's poll for the Australian Financial Review earlier this month put One Nation slightly ahead of Labor, with 31% of respondents saying they would rank One Nation first on a ballot if an election were held that day.
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The same poll found 21% of voters aged 18-29 supported One Nation, behind Labor at 26%.
Protests
Rallies are planned across most capital cities, plus Wollongong and Newcastle.
A group called the High School Anticapitalists is working with the National Union of Students (NUS), the peak representative body for tertiary students, to hold the rallies.
NUS President Felix Hughes said: "Pauline Hanson's racist politics are not welcome on our campuses or in our communities."
Why?
Organisers say Hanson's stance on immigration and multiculturalism is harmful to young people.
The NUS also said One Nation has "opposed making tertiary education more affordable," and "attacked efforts to reduce student debt".
The walkout comes three months ahead of the Victorian state election, where One Nation is running candidates.
The voting age in Australia is 18, meaning most high school students taking part can't vote.
Response
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce told The Sydney Morning Herald he believes students are being radicalised at school, saying "left-wing teachers are making their statement and using the kids as a prop".
In a press conference on Wednesday, Education Minister Jason Clare said "I get it that people don't like One Nation, I don't like One Nation either".
However, he told protesters to save actions for weekends, saying: "I want you at school when school is on, learning".
Hanson did not respond to our request for comment.
