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There’s no doubt One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is enjoying a new lease on life off the back of a wave of new-found popularity.
So we were hardly surprised to hear there was a Seven Network camera crew following the senator around late last week, for a yet-to-be announced segment to air soon. Word is the network was following Hanson when she made a visit to an Islamic college in Brisbane, where we’re told she wore an Israeli flag pin.
Pauline Hanson in the Senate on Tuesday.Alex Ellinghausen
No word on what exactly happened during the visit, other than that there was an exchange and Hanson left. When we tried asking One Nation about it, a party spokesman declined to comment. Representatives of the Seven Network also couldn’t give us a steer.
Word of Hanson’s Islamic college visit came across our desk less than a fortnight after the One Nation leader used her first address to the National Press Club after 30 years in politics to talk about the need for Australia to be “monocultural”.
“Radical Islam is my grave concern … I think we’ve got 18,000 people on ASIO watch lists at the moment, and probably 220 very serious [cases], in a country like this?” Hanson said.
Hanson was, of course, the subject of intrigue heading into this week, as those in political media circles were wondering what surprises she might have up her sleeve for Canberra’s night of nights, the annual Midwinter Ball. But the One Nation leader decided skip the annual event.
That’s not to say the party won’t be represented. One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce, enjoying a fresh bounce of popularity, is set to attend.
Midwinter no-shows
It’s not uncommon to hear journalists bemoaning Canberra’s night of nights. But it looks like politicians are beginning to lose interest in the annual Midwinter Ball as well.
MPs and journalists pictured at the Midwinter Ball last year.SMH
Regular readers will no doubt recall CBD brought word on Monday that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson would give the knees-up a miss. So too Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Transport Minister Catherine King.
Well, there are more: Also absent are Senator Jacqui Lambie and Greens leader Larissa Waters, who both attended last year. There’s more: Senate Opposition Leader Michaelia Cash, Liberal MP Ted O’Brien, and independent senator Lidia Thorpe are all staying home.
But we have no doubt the nation’s lobbyists will be more than happy to take their place. All for a good cause!
Lounge loversRelated Article
Independent MP Monique Ryan used parliament last week to deliver a blistering spray at Australia’s airline duopoly, arguing politicians have become far too cosy with the companies they’re meant to regulate.
As evidence, the Kooyong MP revealed she had ditched her invitation-only Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership in 2023 after deciding the perks risked influencing political decision-making.
Ryan told parliament she had come to believe politicians should not be “guests of the very industry they are meant to hold accountable”, arguing the relationship between airlines and Canberra helped explain why Australian passengers still lag Europe and Canada when it comes to compensation for delays and cancellations.
But Ryan’s public renunciation of the Chairman’s Lounge prompted some amusement among Canberra’s frequent flyers, who say the Kooyong MP remains a familiar face in airline business lounges on her regular Melbourne-Canberra commute.
In response, Ryan’s spokesperson told CBD Ryan earned a lifetime Qantas Gold membership during her previous career as a medical researcher which took her around the world.
“Use of that sort of membership, which is contingent on a lot of work-related travel, is very different from relying on the largesse of the airlines for access to their Chairman’s Lounges,” the spokesperson said.
Regardless, it seems we won’t see Dr Ryan in line for a Hudson’s coffee and $9 magazine from WH Smith any time soon.
Deeming’s long-distance lawyer
The Victorian Liberal Party is once again keeping the legal profession in lunch money with Moira Deeming again engaging a lawyer to communicate with a second colleague.
While Spring Street observers were pondering the age-old question – when is a headlock not a headlock? – a few political insiders were more intrigued by another aspect of Deeming’s response to Matthew Guy, who requested an apology after she accused him of placing her in a form of headlock.
Why had the Caroline Springs-based MP hired a lawyer from Perth?
Deeming turned to Cornerstone Legal director Tim Houweling to fire off a statement after Victoria Police closed its investigation into Deeming’s claim, and “determined there was no offence detected”.
Houweling is no ordinary suburban lawyer. He is president of the South Perth Liberal branch and key ally of conservative powerbroker Nick Goiran, part of the influential faction known as The Clan.
Before dipping his toe into Victorian politics this week, Houweling was known for playing a prominent role in the WA Liberals’ internal battles, including drafting a censure motion against the more moderate federal WA senator Dean Smith.
Houweling, a “Perthonality” in his own right, was unavailable to tell CBD how he landed the Deeming brief.
But with the Victorian Liberals now openly considering dumping Deeming from their upper house ticket, she may be wise to retain his services given his considerable experience navigating internal Liberal Party politics.
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John Buckley is a CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.
Fiona Byrne is the CBD columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.From our partners