Right-wing populist political party One Nation wants Australia to follow United States President Donald Trump's lead and exit the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In today’s statement, One Nation Party leader and senator, Pauline Hanson said, “I congratulate Mr. Trump for leading by example and putting his nation’s interests before all else. One Nation puts Australia and Australians first.”
Trump announced on Monday the U.S. will leave the WHO, claiming the mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic is cause for the country’s exit.
"World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It's not going to happen anymore," said the newly inaugurated president.
Trump signed the executive order - which legally begins the process of withdrawing the country - the same day as he took office for his second term.
Since the pandemic in 2020, Trump has repeatedly urged that America withdraw their support.
By leaving WHO, the U.S. will stop all contributions to the health agency's work and initiatives, which raises concerns as the country is currently the highest financial supporter of all member states.
WHO has responded to the announcement by saying, “We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
The President said WHO was unable to be independent of the "inappropriate political influence of WHO member states" and required disproportionate and "unfairly onerous payments" from the U.S.
Australia’s One Nation Party has since released a statement arguing that “Australia should affirm its sovereignty and withdraw its membership of the World Health Organisation following President Donald Trump”.
The party claims WHO “plans to take over the country’s health system and dictate Australian health policy.”
This is in relation to the proposed international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response which has been in discussion since 2021.
WHO is expected to deliver a final draft of the agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025.
The Australian government has said the pandemic agreement “[does] not affect Australia’s sovereignty to determine its domestic health policies, including public health and safety measures.”
The Government has also emphasised that a new international agreement may introduce “legal obligations for Australia” but does not “automatically change Australian law”.
Hanson has previously expressed her distrust of the organisation.
In a 2020 interview on Paul Murray Live, which can be found on the Senator's Facebook page, Hansen said she believed WHO was “full of lefty elitists, who were actually pushing their own agendas”.
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