One Nation leader Pauline Hanson opens up about jail time and domestic violence experience in Perth speech

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has opened up about her time in prison and revealed allegations of domestic violence during her second marriage in an emotional speech while campaigning in Perth.

The Queensland Senator was addressing a Swan Chamber of Commerce “hour of power” event on Thursday, where she also stated she was not deterred by her critics in the slightest and vowed to stay at the helm of the party as long as it took.

During the speech to One Nation supporters and swing voters — which was billed as chance to hear from the person, not the politician — Ms Hanson became emotional, wiping a tear away as she talked about her 11 weeks in prison in 2003 after being found guilty of electoral fraud charges that were later overturned.

“It was a political witch hunt,” Ms Hanson said.

“I was absolutely devastated. I could have just fallen into a heap. Anyway, I was handcuffed in that room. I was taken downstairs, and I was strip searched.

“I had a guard come up to me through the night, he said, ‘Hang in there, Pauline’, and he said, ‘My mum, my mother’s Aboriginal, but we fully support you, so please hang in there.’

“That night I just, I actually gave up. I stopped eating. I didn’t want to have. I just gave up.

“They put me into the hospital that that night, and I saw my daughter come across on TV from New Zealand, and she was about 19 at the time and it just broke my heart, as it is now.”

Ms Hanson — whose party is now ahead of both Labor and the Coalition in every major poll — described being paid $5 a shift by her father as a waitress, and life as a single mother.

“Our marriage broke down, and I won’t go into detail, but I have (had) domestic violence as well in my marriage,” Ms Hanson said.

Am I racist? No, I’m not a racist. Do I care if people want to call me that? No.

“That’s a little bit of knowledge and history of knowing what happens, running small business, been involved in domestic violence.

“We split up in 1987 and from that time I’ve actually have been a single woman, I’ve had a couple of relationships, but I’ve never married again, it’s not something for me.”

Ms Hanson said politics was her life now and is “more than a job” but admitted it has come at a heavy cost.

“I believe that a lot of people in this country now are pinning their hopes on One Nation to make that change and difference for you,” she said.

“I understand the responsibility that puts on my shoulders and my team to make sure that we can make your lives better, but each and every one of you have to start doing it for yourselves.

“Am I racist? No, I’m not a racist. Do I care if people want to call me that? No.

“I am Australian, and I’m so proud of my country . . . I don’t have to open my heart, mind to anyone who doesn’t want to share those values with me. As far as I’m concerned, you can go back to where you came from.”

Ms Hanson also weighed in on her political position, saying she was not handing over the reins of One Nation to anyone else anytime soon.

“We haven’t got a lot of time to turn this country around,” she said.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to be, but I’m not going anywhere till I know that I’m comfortable to hand it on to the next one to carry on my legacy, what I’ve started, and I’m not going to give up on that.

“With politics, my father said to me, he said, “Why did you open your mouth? I don’t know if I’ll ever change anything, Dad, but I don’t know unless I have a go.”

The speech came one day after Ms Hanson flew into Perth on Wednesday, when protesters and supporters were kept apart by police outside a party fundraiser in Midland.

After the event on Thursday, Ms Hanson took questions outside and pledged her support to WA’s GST deal that guarantees the State a 75 cent return on every deal raised - despite Queensland’s Government complaining that it has been “dudded by Canberra”.

“I believe that it should be fair, right across the board. It’s not fair. No, it’s not,” Ms Hanson said.

“But what you used to get, 36 cents in the dollar, was not fair. I will not be advocating for that to be lowered at all.

“The other states need to start utilising their resources to create productivity in their own states, they’ve been slack to do it”.

The West Australian paid a $60 entry fee into the Swan Chamber of Commerce event, with media not permitted access unless they purchased a ticket.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.