Rarely has a speech to the National Press Club been so hotly and keenly anticipated, whether by the loony left or the Canberra press gallery or the political parties now starting to struggle for traction and relevance as One Nation dominates the headlines.

Pauline Hanson – the woman who for 30 years has been derided, dismissed, and demonised by the establishment media – strode into the NPC late on Wednesday morning to make history. In all her long and storied career, she had never before been invited to give an address.

In the lead up, commentators were almost salivating at the prospect of a train wreck; of Pauline failing to deliver, or to stand up to the scrutiny of the veteran political journalists who packed the room.

Those wishing for Pauline’s downfall left disappointed. She barely batted an eye at the stunt pulled by the sewer-dwelling mob called GetUp, a stunt which showed they hadn’t learned anything after blowing more than $600,000 attacking Pauline in the failed effort to stop David Farley winning in Farrer. Police are investigating the incident, which is now proving to be a serious embarrassment for the National Press Club.

Pauline delivered some choice words to the press themselves: “They [the Australian people] know what you’ve been saying about me and many of them no longer believe you. Australians aren’t buying this crap from the political establishment and its media supporters anymore. Remember this: I don’t answer to the media. I answer to the Australian people.”

Then came the questions – the moment they were really waiting for. After being chastised by Pauline, some of the journalists were surprisingly deferent (they might be thinking about future access) but the tough questions came nevertheless and she confidently handled every one of them. The big gotcha moment they hoped for never eventuated. Instead, they got a lecture from a veteran political leader at the top of her game.