Pauline Hanson's Taxpayer-Funded Travel Aligns with Political Fundraisers
Parliamentary expense records have disclosed that Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has claimed thousands of dollars for taxpayer-funded flights on dates that coincide with One Nation fundraising events and election campaigning activities. This has sparked inquiries into potential breaches of parliamentary guidelines, which mandate that the dominant purpose of such travel must be parliamentary business, not fundraising or soliciting donations.
Flights to Fundraisers and Campaign Stops
According to data from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA), Hanson billed taxpayers for multiple trips that included attendance at political fundraisers. For instance, she claimed $1,650 to attend an Adelaide "Australia Day" fundraiser last year, alongside a One Nation senate candidate and South Australian upper house MP Sarah Game, who has since left the party. In another instance, Hanson claimed over $2,000 for flights from Brisbane to Sydney on 14 February 2025, and from Newcastle to Brisbane two days later, with a One Nation fundraising dinner held on the Central Coast on 15 February.
Additionally, Hanson claimed about $1,200 in flights to and from Newcastle in April 2025, attending a fundraising event in Maitland. In 2024, she headlined a fundraiser in Perth as part of a $2,200 trip. These expenses raise questions about compliance with rules that prohibit using public resources for fundraising purposes, unless related to charity.
Campaigning with Daughter Lee Hanson
IPEA records further show that Hanson claimed $2,400 across six flights to and from Hobart over five days last April, coinciding with the launch of her daughter Lee Hanson's senate campaign in Tasmania. This included a return trip to Sydney for a live appearance on Channel 7's Sunrise program, costing $1,200, plus $200 in Comcar fares. She later claimed another $2,500 for flights to Hobart to campaign with her daughter in the final week of the election, staying until after election night.
Lee Hanson has since been employed by One Nation as a senior adviser for NSW Senator Sean Bell, a former trusted adviser to Pauline Hanson. This adds another layer to the scrutiny of taxpayer-funded activities.
Past Scrutiny and Compliance Issues
Hanson's use of taxpayer-funded travel has previously been reviewed by the expenses watchdog, such as after she claimed nearly $5,000 to attend Gina Rinehart's 70th birthday party in Perth in 2024. She was cleared after providing diary entries showing meetings with Hancock Prospecting executives to justify parliamentary duties. However, she has repeatedly failed to properly declare gifts from Rinehart, only updating the register after Guardian Australia exposed undeclared flights.
Moreover, Hanson's party has faced compliance issues with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Following the 2019 federal election, an enforceable undertaking was imposed on Hanson after the AEC found the party wrongly claimed about $165,000 in expenses, which had to be repaid. After the 2022 compliance program, Hanson repaid about $70,000. The AEC is currently reviewing 2025 election campaign funding, which delivered over $6 million to One Nation, with audits expected to be finalized soon.
This pattern of expense claims highlights ongoing concerns about the use of public funds in political contexts, with MPs often justifying such trips by citing coincidental parliamentary business. Hanson has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded to these latest revelations.
