One Nation Leader Visits Mar-a-Lago Ahead of CPAC Speech in Florida

Amid a surge of support for the conservative-leaning One Nation at the polls, party leader Pauline Hanson will address the U.S. Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida on Nov. 4.

This will be Hanson’s second trip to America, and this time she’s already visited U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property for a Halloween function she called a “great night.”

“I’m very pleased to have been invited to speak at [CPAC], because I think it’s very well attended and this is going to be in Florida so it’s very important to me to be there speaking on behalf of Australians, speaking on behalf of many Australians at this conference,” she told Sky News Australia.

Support for One Nation has grown steadily since the May federal election, with The Australian newspaper’s Newspoll showing the minor party’s support has soared to 15 percent, nabbing four points from the traditional centre-right Liberal Party.

Current predictions estimate One Nation could pull in as many as seven lower house seats in the next federal election.

The party also claims its membership numbers have soared 100 percent since the election with One Nation also benefitting from a recent push into Nationals Party territory in New South Wales to set up local branches.

Last month, the then-head of the National Party’s Tamworth branch, Steven Coxhead, made a public switch to One Nation.

Hanson says the growth has been in response to the major parties not listening to voters.

“I think the majority of the Australian people are fed up with the major political parties, especially Labor and also the Coalition who seem as if they don’t have policies to put out there to the people and it was proven last election they had no sound policies, they weren’t connecting with the Australian people,” she said.

“What they’re not addressing is mass migration and … climate change and the scam that’s been going on is affecting many Australians whether it’s industry, manufacturing, small business, the farming sector, through to mining—so everyone’s being affected by it so to head down the path of carbon emissions is destroying our economy and people are struggling and we’re going into poverty.”

Hanson revealed her next immediate goals are the South Australian and Victorian state elections.

“I am going to target to get a senator … in every state,” she said.

“No more am I just going to be a back-up for [the Liberals] and support them.

“I’m putting myself out there and the policies for One Nation are great and are good for the people of Australia.”