Hanson hopeful of two Senate seats

Serial political candidate Pauline Hanson is full of confidence and says her party could pick up not one, but two Senate seats.

One Nation's Pauline Hanson

One Nation's Pauline Hanson. Source: AAP

Pauline Hanson is confident of picking up not one, but two Senate seats in Queensland.

The serial right-wing candidate, whose only successful campaign saw her win the lower house seat of Oxley in 1996, says she was buoyed by support at polling booths on Saturday, where voters were readily taking her how-to-vote cards.

"It was very supportive and I'm getting word back from a lot of people across the state," she said after arriving at a small election-night function at a pub in Ipswich, west of Brisbane.

So enthusiastic was her welcome that Ms Hanson's media conference was repeatedly interrupted by a man loudly proclaiming his admiration.

"Pauline you're the best," he said.

"Queensland, Australia loves you - you are the greatest."

Ms Hanson believed voters saw her as "a true blue Aussie" with the courage to say what many were thinking.

She said she felt "very upbeat" about the party's chances, including picking up a second Senate seat.

Former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello said on Nine that the strength of the One Nation primary vote in lower house seats across Queensland showed she was likely to win her Senate seat.

Ms Hanson has become a divisive figure largely due to her immigration policies and calls for a royal commission into Islam.

She has repeatedly run for state and federal elections since her defeat in 1998, but political commentators say she has her best chance yet in the 2016 election courtesy of changes to voting laws and the double dissolution election.

"I think I will be very proud if I can do it but no one can take away from me how proud I was to win the seat of Oxley in 1996 against the major political parties," she said.

"This will be up there very high beside it."

Ms Hanson also reaffirmed a commitment to work with all parties on the floor of parliament despite comments from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that she was unwelcome in Australian politics.

"It's water off a duck's back," she said.

"I've had more said to me over the years."


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world