Pauline Hanson’s daughter Lee erupts as she is shamed by her local coffee shop – as owner reveals she donates One Nation money to the Greens
Lee Hanson, One Nation’s Tasmanian state president and daughter of Pauline Hanson, criticised a Hobart coffee shop after it posted a message targeting One Nation supporters. The dispute followed the party’s AI-generated campaign video, which the shop said it found “disgusting”, and has prompted debate over political expression and how businesses treat customers.
Richmond Reading Room owner Dana Stevens said money spent at the café by One Nation members would be donated to the Tasmanian Greens, though the post did not name Hanson. Hanson said she had regularly visited and felt hurt by the post; she will continue supporting local businesses but no longer plans to visit the café. The post drew both criticism and praise online, and Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley said the party would welcome donations that comply with its rules.
- Lee Hanson says a Hobart café’s post about One Nation supporters hurt her.
- The café says it will donate One Nation customers’ spending to the Greens.
- The dispute has drawn mixed reactions about politics and customer treatment.
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Lee Hanson is the state president of One Nation in Tasmania and the daughter of Pauline Hanson, who founded the party. One Nation is a long-standing Australian political party that has played a prominent role in the country's politics.
A Hobart café called Richmond Reading Room posted a message opposing One Nation and announcing it would donate money from One Nation supporters to the Tasmanian Greens party, a different political group. Lee Hanson responded by criticising the café publicly, saying she had been a regular customer and felt hurt by the post.
The dispute raises questions about whether businesses should take political stances that affect how they treat customers, and more broadly what role political expression should play in commercial settings. It highlights ongoing tensions in Australian politics between different ideological groups.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The café owner is asserting a fundamental right to operate according to their conscience, just as consumers choose businesses aligned with their values. The posted message addressed One Nation's politics and campaign approach, not Lee Hanson personally, and represents legitimate political expression. Business owners should have freedom to decide where profits flow whilst still maintaining inclusive customer service.
The case against
A local café serves as a community space that should welcome residents regardless of political affiliation. Publicly targeting a particular party's supporters creates division and treats customers unequally based on politics. Businesses functioning as community institutions arguably should remain politically neutral rather than weaponising customer spending, as this risks fragmenting local social cohesion.