LATIKA M BOURKE: Pauline Hanson makes leadership signal as One Nation surges ahead in polls

Pauline Hanson says her continued good performance in the opinion polls is encouraging but that she is open-minded about someone else leading any One Nation government.

The latest Newspoll published by Newscorp showed One Nation maintaining its overall strength with a primary vote of 30 per cent, which is neck-and-neck with the governing Labor party. It is the second time Labor has recorded it’s lowest-ever primary since first regaining power in 2022.

The Coalition languishes far behind both parties but clawed back two points to land at 19 per cent. All results are within the margin of error, suggesting no statistically significant changes overall.

Approval ratings showed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at minus 18, up from his June low of minus 24, while Senator Hanson improved and was neutral with 47 per cent satisfied with her performance, 47 per cent dissatisfied.

One Nation had surged ahead of both the major parties but dipped slightly following Senator Hanson’s debut at the National Press Club where she stated opposition to paid parental leave and abortion.

Senator Hanson had spent the last week under fire after photographs of her secret, lavish Italian getaway with her billionaire benefactor, Gina Rinehart, emerged on social media. The pair attended an exclusive Dolce & Gabbana runway show attended by A-listers, including Jennifer Lopez.

Senator Hanson’s Italian sojourn was split between two trips to the UK where she went on the convicted criminal and far-right activist Tommy Robinson’s podcast and lamented the end of the White Australia policy, as well as addressing a near-empty Conservative Political Action Network conference in London.

Robinson has been banned from visiting Australia because of his criminal record. Senator Hanson urged Robinson to visit Australia, telling him to “wait until I’m in (government)” in order to waive his visa ban.

But speaking exclusively to The Nightly, she said she still had not made up her mind about whether she would lead if her party won government.

“I am at this stage but I’m not going to make that final call until closer to the election. I’ve got good people coming on board the party and I’ll make that call at the right time,” she said in an interview in London.

“My whole aim is not about putting me in The Lodge, yes, I’m leader of the party, but I’m also open-minded that if someone’s there who can do a better job than I in leading this party, leading it to do what we need to do to achieve, then I would say you do it.”

In London, Senator Hanson told Robinson that her daughter could have the potential to lead the party but that it would have to be earned as she did not believe in nepotism.

She said the idea of handing over the leadership was “sitting in the back of her mind” and that she was not actively scouting for a replacement.

And in a blow for former Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, who defected from the Nationals to One Nation and unlike Senator Hanson sits in the House of Representatives where government is formed, she said when asked who her successor could be: “There is no-one that I’m prepared to say.”

Senator Hanson appeared to suggest that the criticism was getting to her, and informing her decision about her long-term future.

“With all the barbs being thrown at me all the time, I’m criticised about everything, my background — it’s not getting to me it’s just that I’m mindful of the fact how dirty politics is and everything that can be thrown at you to destroy yourself,” she said.

But she also said that she would not be led by the polls.

“I’m not dictated to by the polls. I’m not dictated to by those other politicians who might throw their barbs at me because they’re scared,” Senator Hanson said.

“I’ve been consistent with my message. And what I said 30 years ago has now impacted our country, and people see she tried to warn us.

“And so I think we’ve built up that trust with the Australian people.

“As I’ve said from day one, the polls are like a stock market, up one day down the next. The real poll is on election day. My main aim is to make sure I get the right policies, the right candidates, and to take that to the next election.

“Am I going to hang my hat on what the polls are telling me today? No, I’m not.

“When we’re doing so well, it’s encouraging, it means that I’m connecting with the people, and people are listening to what I have to say.”