Actor Paul Hogan has publicly rejected One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s call to return to a perceived “Australian monoculture,” dismissing the political framing as outdated. According to the Australian Financial Review, Hogan—best known for his role in Crocodile Dundee—explicitly stated his support for a multicultural Australia while labeling Hanson a “pelican,” a term the consensus online suggests denotes a fool or a clown.
Why the ‘Pelican’ insult carries weight in Australian culture
The term “pelican” functions as an insult in Australian English, despite the bird’s actual biological success. While the Australian National Dictionary does not maintain a formal entry for the term as an insult, its usage is well-documented. According to the Australian Financial Review, Hogan previously used the term in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee to tell a New York driver: “Get on the right side of the road, ya pelican!”
The term also appeared in a 2014 social media controversy involving actor Russell Crowe, who used the word to describe a rugby league sponsor. Beyond modern usage, the imagery has literary roots; in Shakespeare’s King Lear, the word is used to describe “young pelicans supposedly fed on their mother’s blood”. However, the consensus online suggests the modern Australian usage focuses primarily on the bird’s perceived ungainly movement and lack of intelligence.
While often used as an insult, the Australian pelican is described by BirdLife Australia as a highly cooperative species capable of soaring to heights of 3,000 meters. The bird has recently gained public favor, placing highly in Guardian Australia’s annual “Bird of the Year” polls.
The clash between monoculture and modern demographics
The dispute began when Senator Pauline Hanson advocated for a return to an “Australian monoculture” during a National Press Club address. Hanson cited Paul Hogan and Norman Gunston as examples of this cultural ideal. Hogan, speaking from Venice Beach, California, countered that Australia is inherently defined by migration.
“We’re all migrants, except the Aboriginals, who as far as we know have been [in Australia] for 60,000 years,” Hogan told the Australian Financial Review. By distancing himself from Hanson’s platform, Hogan highlighted a divide between traditionalist political rhetoric and the demographic reality of Australia.
How public figures influence the national identity debate
The exchange underscores a trend where national icons are drawn into political debates regarding identity. Hogan’s intervention serves as a precedent for how cultural figures can neutralize political messaging.
Contrast this with the typical political cycle, where figures like Hanson often use controversy as a publicity tool to maintain visibility. By refusing to be a prop for the monoculture narrative, Hogan effectively shifted the conversation from the senator’s policy proposal to the validity of her cultural references.
When analyzing political rhetoric, look for the “cultural anchor”—the specific person or event a politician uses to ground their argument. If that anchor publicly rejects the premise, the entire argument often loses its rhetorical foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to call someone a “pelican” in Australia?
The consensus online is that it means a fool or a clown, based on perceptions of the bird as slow-moving, with an ungainly physiognomy.
Did Paul Hogan support Pauline Hanson’s monoculture claims?
No. Hogan explicitly rejected the concept, stating that he supports a multicultural Australia and noting that the country is built on migration.
Why did Pauline Hanson mention Paul Hogan in her speech?
Hanson used Hogan and Norman Gunston as examples of what she considers the “essential features” of an Australian monoculture, saying: “Bring back Paul Hogan and Norman Gunston. These are the essential features of Australian monoculture, and there’s nothing remotely exclusionary about them.”
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