Pauline Hanson, the leader of One Nation, has been very publicly carpetbagging in Tasmania, having campaigned with her daughter Lee Hanson. As it stands, 70-year old Pauline Hanson is still sitting on a sheer Senate seat not up for reelection until 2028. Despite her party’s recent struggles, including a mere 14,000 first preference Senate votes in Tasmania during the last election, she has urged her daughter to enter the political fray for years. The historic upcoming election provides Lee an opportunity not just to challenge her mother’s legacy, but to build upon it. At the same time, Pauline intends to hand over the leadership while remaining a major player in Australian politics.
The political career of Pauline Hanson has been volatile, characterized both by large successes and larger controversies. As recently as 2003 she found herself facing imprisonment. She had been convicted of registering a fake political party and eventually sentenced to three years in prison after illegally collecting close to $500,000 in electoral reimbursements. Her past is complex and controversial, but she remains today one of the most powerful progressive forces in Australian political life. In 2017, she was the center of controversy for donning a burka on the floor of the Senate, a deliberate provocation that drew national outrage.
As she campaigns with her daughter, Pauline’s focus is not solely on her own political future but on grooming Lee for leadership. Lee consistently communicates her motivation for running – her commitment to solving issues facing the community and her belief that she offers a new approach to government and politics. She doesn’t shy away from the difficulties that accompany having Sandra as a mom, but she is focused on doing something real with her mother’s legacy.
Lee Hanson’s Campaign Journey
Lee Hanson has recently started down the same path to public service, motivated by an urgent and abiding civic purpose. She has more recently joined her mother on the campaign trail in Tasmania, where they have spent time talking directly to voters on the ground. Pauline has focused on her daughter’s problem-solving approach, depicting her as empathetic with a flair for building community.
“I think we’d make a pretty strong team together,” Lee stated. “We can offer different generational views but still have strong voices representing our states.” This unique mother-daughter collaboration combines wisdom with the new voices. Lee finds this approach crucial for maneuvering through politics today.
Though Lee is well aware of the cloud of her mother’s past controversies looming over her, she refuses to be deterred in her mission. You can pledge to try your hardest. Just be candid with everyone and honest with yourself. It’s a myriad of reasons,” she commented. This commitment to transparency with constituents would be music to the ears of voters tired of disingenuous representatives.
Lee fills this new position with clearly defined expectations, with her mother’s legacy shining through. All the while, she is trying to establish her own distinct persona. “Do I not enter politics because I’m protecting my kids from what I’ve been through? Or has it got that bad now that I actually do need to put my hand up to protect my kids’ future?” she pondered. This question gets to the heart of her motivation. It does signal a growing concern among parents of the future their children face in this new political reality.
One Nation’s Position and Future
One Nation is still true to its radical roots, with Pauline Hanson at the helm. The party has called for Australia to exit from the UN’s Paris Agreement, proving that they are serious about climate change. Their policies are difficult not to polarize, leading to applause and derision from different sections of Australian society.
Though such strategic succession planning has been the subject of speculation even among One Nation’s leadership, last week the party leadership rejected the idea. Pauline has no plans to cede relevance and erudition, and she plans to keep driving the ship until her term runs out in 2023. “I just make it quite clear, I don’t believe in nepotism,” she asserted when discussing her daughter’s candidacy, emphasizing that Lee’s involvement is based on merit rather than family ties.
Pauline’s history of facing electoral defeat—most notably in 1998 and 2001—adds another layer of complexity to One Nation’s future. The party has struggled to regain its footing since being expelled from the political landscape after Pauline’s initial fall from grace. With Lee entering the fray, there is hope for revitalization and renewed engagement with voters.
Indeed, the challenges ahead are great. Pauline and Lee Hanson are focused on growing their party’s influence in Tasmania and more widely thanks to their duo’s combined talents. Pauline still has three years remaining in her Senate term. This gives her a lot of time to form a solid strategy and build relationships with potential constituents.
Community Engagement and Voter Outreach
Both Pauline and Lee have lived and worked in local communities throughout their campaign efforts. Their model marries old-fashioned door-knocking and retail campaigning with the nimbleness of digital outreach to capture the youth vote. This dual focus on engagement illustrates the students’ wish to connect different generations and answer urgent questions in the community.
Lee is particularly passionate about grassroots initiatives. Her passion and leadership go beyond the political realm, having served in various neighborhood, local and school parent organizations in the greater New York area. “If you can’t look after your backyard and set your own home and house up correctly, then you can’t help other people,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of local action as a precursor to broader political engagement.
The Hansons’ campaign strategy focuses on the needs of ordinary Tasmanians, from education through to health provision. Most importantly, Lee connects seamlessly with the TikTok voters in this new younger generation. This was, for example, a key skill that might allow One Nation to expand its grassroots support base.
