Do not call her a racist: anti-Pauline Hanson strategists tell campaigners character attacks won’t work in Victoria

Exclusive: strategic rethink urges progressive activists to respectfully steer one-on-one conversations with One Nation supporters towards economic concerns

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The message from strategists was blunt: do not, however tempting, personally attack Pauline Hanson or call her a racist.

The request has been made to progressive campaigners and unionists who have been asked to start one-on-one conversations with One Nation supporters before the Victorian election in November.