One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has identified her daughter, Lee Hanson, as a potential successor, a move that comes amidst speculation that Barnaby Joyce is a frontrunner for the party's leadership.
Lee Hanson, 42, joined the One Nation party as an adviser after an unsuccessful Senate run in the previous federal election. Despite naming her daughter, Pauline Hanson stated during an interview on British right-wing commentator Tommy Robinson's podcast that she does not believe in nepotism. "She has to prove herself – not only to me, but also to the other members and to the public, and everything like that," Hanson said.
The 72-year-old party leader praised her daughter, describing her as "cluey," smart, and highly respected. "She took a cut in wages to come across. She said: 'I know that if I don't stand up … I'm frightened of where the country's going'," Hanson recounted. She added, "It's great to work with her. She's the future. She's got the softer approach."
Hanson has previously been reticent about naming a successor, stating in an interview with Peter van Onselen that she believes in merit and that merit will guide One Nation's future leadership choices. Van Onselen noted that leadership succession remains an "unresolved problem for One Nation," as Hanson herself is the party's primary asset and limitation. He suggested that for One Nation to endure beyond Hanson, it needs to establish a viable leadership beyond her personal brand.
National Party MP Llew O'Brien, a friend of Barnaby Joyce, had recently suggested Joyce was a future leader for One Nation. However, Joyce commented that he has no issue with the idea of Lee Hanson succeeding her mother. "Lee's a good lady and she's a mate of mine and I've got no problems with this," Joyce stated. He added that a leader should be supported by colleagues and the Australian public.
Joyce also defended Hanson's recent trip to a luxury hotel in Taormina, Sicily, which she attended with mining magnate Gina Rinehart and other celebrities for a Dolce & Gabbana event. "It's a holiday, isn't it? I mean, I don't care if it's Dolce Gabbana or Prada, as long as you're paying for it, darling, I don't care," Joyce said. "A person's allowed to have free time and she's having free time over there."
