Pauline Hanson Confirms Potential Lower House Bid at Next Election

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has confirmed she may step down from the Senate and contest a lower house seat at the next federal election.

On May 5, the conservative political stalwart confirmed earlier comments from her party’s chief of staff, James Ashby, that she is considering leaving the upper house—a move that, if successful, could open the door to a prime ministerial bid should One Nation win enough seats at the 2028 election.

“We’ve only just actually discussed it in depth yesterday, so I was surprised to hear him say it last night on TV,” she told Adelaide radio station FIVEAA.

“But anyway he has said it. Yes, it is on the cards, and I have to consider that.

“And a lot of people are criticising me: ‘she can’t getting anywhere because she’s in the upper house.’ Don’t underestimate me or what I may do or not to.”

Hanson’s comments come amid reports that National-turned One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce may recontest his former New England seat.

The One Nation leader, who had been in South Australia after her party secured seven seats in both houses in the state’s March election, said there were still several years to go before any decision had to be made on a lower house contest.

“There’s a lot to consider … you’ve got to address the economic stability of this nation,” she said.

“It’s out of control, the government spending. It’s driving up cost of living.

“We’re not using our resources that we have, the gas and the rural in this country. The agriculture sector is dying as well. So much that’s happening.”

When asked about her potential retirement, Hanson said she looked forward to retiring one day, but would not be “on her way out the door” until she had put the right people in place to carry on her vision.

Recent polling from Roy Morgan showed One Nation’s primary support was sitting at 21.5 percent after dropping one percent.

The Coalition’s popularity improved by 1.5 percent to 24 percent, while Labor remained on 29.5 percent.

However, despite widespread support for Labor, the polling also noted that 59 percent of voters believed the country was “going in the wrong direction.”

Think Tank Director Says Hanson’s Running for Lower House Seat Makes Sense

Australian Institute of Progress Director Graham Young said it would “make sense” for Hanson to run for a lower house seat, noting it was unusual for a major party leader seeking to form government to sit in the Senate.

As for which seat Hanson might set her sights on, Young believed Blair could be a notable contender.

The seat, which includes parts of Brisbane and Ipswich, was a three-way race in 1998 between One Nation, Labor and the Liberal Party.

Given the Liberals have less support now than in 1998, Young said Hanson could perform stronger than the Liberals in the seat, though Labor incumbent Shayne Neumann currently has a 5.71 percent margin.

The seat of Wright, which takes in parts of the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Logan, could be another option.

“One Nation got 16.25 percent there last election, Trumpet of Patriots was on 5.02 percent, and there were other minor right wing parties adding up to close to 28 percent,” Young said.

“The member Scott Buccholz’s primary vote was only 34.06 percent, so it’s a safe non-Labor seat with a member who is definitely vulnerable with the evisceration of the LNP [Liberal National Party] vote.

“Irrespective of whether she is in a position to form government, it puts her in the right house to be driving the bus.”

The think tank director also noted that Hanson winning a lower house seat might provide the party with an extra seat they may not have otherwise won, while also maintaining party presence in the Senate.

“Senate is basically a party vote, so her brand would carry whoever her replacement is all the way through,” he said.