Pauline Hanson's daughter Lee Hanson vows political comeback after failed Senate tilt

West Australian

5 days ago

The daughter of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and failed senate contender Lee Hanson has vowed to return to politics after she just missed out on a Senate spot.
After weeks of counting, the Australian Electoral Commission confirmed the six senate vacancies were won by Labor's Carol Brown and Richard Dowling, Greens senator Nick McKim, Liberal senators Claire Chandler and Richard Colbeck, as well as firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie.
Despite early fears that Ms Hanson could topple Senator Lambie, the first-time contender came in seventh and fell short of a seat.
Speaking to NewsWire on Wednesday, Ms Hanson said that despite only running a four-week campaign, she was able to amass a 'phenomenal' amount of support, and vowed a return to politics.
'I'm only getting started … There's such a need for effective change and adequate representation in parliament,' she said.
'I've got three years now to campaign if I choose to run in the next federal election … I'll continue to work with them regardless, and do what I can to support them regardless of holding a federal position or not.'
Ms Hanson, who resigned from a senior role with Hydro Tasmania to run in the federal election, wouldn't rule out becoming a political staffer for One Nation, stating she was 'keeping all options open'.
'I don't know what the future is going to hold now. They're all decisions I'll need to make over the coming weeks and months,' she said.
Ms Hanson said her four-week campaign had revealed people had several 'misconceptions' about One Nation, specially that the party was only 'Queensland relevant'.
'We do look at localised issues and advocate for localised issues as well as common national stances as well,' she said.
'The ones that typically do get a run in the media are immigration and things ... but if you look at the solutions and the policy offerings of One Nation, they're far (reaching).'
She also accused media of pitting her against Senator Lambie, stating comments from Senator Hanson stating that she wants 'to see her (Senator Lambie) gone' were made through her mother's 'own working experience with Jacqui in the Senate'.
'That's the spin that they (the media) pushed … even though it was never (part of) any agenda or any message I tried to put out in any way, shape or form,' she said.
While Ms Hanson said she had never had any contact with or spoken to Senator Lambie, she wished her well and called on her to '(listen) to the 'feedback she's received through the election period'.
'I did hear that many Tasmanians did not feel that Jacqui was representing them adequately, and those who did vote for me wanted a change,' she said.
'There's number of reasons why they didn't feel she was representing them, I know, specifically in the salmon industry.'
Following confirmation of the Senate result, Senator Lambie, who has previously said this six-year term would be her last, vowed to fight for Tasmanian people 'doing it tough'.
'Interest rates are coming down and that's good, but for many Tasmanian families it will barely touch the sides,' she said.
'I want to ensure the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide are implemented properly and that they make a real difference to the lives of veterans and their families.'
Following the federal election, Labor now holds four of the 12 Tasmanian Senate positions, while the Liberals have four.
The Greens hold two seats, with the remaining spots held by independent Tammy Tyrell and Senator Lambie.