Is it a case of nepotism on the taxpayer's dime? One Nation has placed Pauline Hanson's daughter, Lee Hanson, in a significant taxpayer-funded role as a senior adviser to a New South Wales senator. This position, based in Tasmania where Lee Hanson resides, could see her earning up to $180,000 annually. This revelation raises eyebrows, especially considering the party's stance on staffing and family employment.
But here's where it gets interesting... Lee Hanson was appointed in October last year to advise Senator Sean Bell. She's not just a figurehead; she's actively driving the party's expansion in Tasmania and also holds the title of the party's national executive manager. Meanwhile, Senator Bell himself has a history with Pauline Hanson, having been a Queensland resident and staffer before taking on the NSW Senate seat vacated by Warwick Stacey, who served a brief six weeks before citing health reasons.
Following Bell's appointment in September last year, Lee Hanson stepped into her senior adviser role. This position, according to the latest enterprise agreement for commonwealth parliamentary staff, offers a salary range between $151,000 and $183,000. She's believed to be one of four 'personal staff' members allocated to One Nation after the most recent election, a situation that arose after the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, reduced the party's staff allocation. It remains a point of contention whether Senator Bell or Pauline Hanson's office is the official employer.
Now, for a tricky bit: while federal law prohibits parliamentarians from directly employing their immediate family members, it does permit them to employ the family members of other MPs. One Nation has been tight-lipped about the specifics of Lee Hanson's employment, including who she reports to and how her role aligns with her Tasmanian responsibilities. Their official statement emphasizes that employment decisions are based on 'merit and capability,' and they explicitly state they 'do not believe in DEI or gender quotas unlike Labor, the Greens and Coalition.'
And this is the part most people miss... In the previous parliamentary term, Pauline Hanson and Senator Malcolm Roberts each had two senior advisers. However, after One Nation secured two additional Senate seats in the last election, they didn't receive any further personal staff allocations. Pauline Hanson publicly criticized this as a 'capricious and politically motivated' move. This staffing shortage left Senator Roberts without senior advisers, leading to an unfair dismissal case by a former staff member, Aidan Nagle, who has since been employed in Pauline Hanson's office.
The Fair Work Commission has agreed to proceed with Nagle's case, acknowledging that the Prime Minister's office 'loaded the gun' with its actions, while the legislation acted as the 'trigger' for his dismissal. The unfair dismissal hearing is still pending.
Lee Hanson's increased prominence also coincides with her taking a more significant national role within One Nation. Pauline Hanson has even positioned her as the 'next generation' to lead the party. Her LinkedIn profile confirms her appointment to the party's national executive in July last year, a role described as unpaid by a party spokesperson.
The trusted adviser with a local touch? Despite advising a NSW senator, Lee Hanson's social media activity shows her actively promoting One Nation's presence in Tasmania, campaigning on local issues, and noting the party's growing support there. One Nation has established four new branches in Tasmania, where recent polls indicate they are outperforming the Liberal party in federal voting intentions. Lee Hanson herself has urged continued effort, stating, 'We can’t take our foot off the pedal, we have a lot of work to do before the next federal election. Let’s roll up our sleeves and continue to build on the momentum.'
This situation of a Tasmania-based adviser for a NSW senator has drawn parallels to Senator Bell himself, who faced criticism for accepting his role while residing in Queensland. While there's no legal requirement for a senator to live in the state they represent, Bell's selection sparked debate in the NSW parliament regarding his suitability. Bell, described as Hanson’s 'trusted adviser for nine years,' has been appointed for a six-year term. Notably, Barnaby Joyce was anticipated to be One Nation's top Senate candidate in NSW for the next federal election.
Independent MP Mark Latham, a former One Nation member, voiced his opposition to Bell's nomination in the NSW parliament, calling the appointment a breach of a '124-year constitutional convention.' Latham humorously remarked that Bell was as 'Queenslander as a Pauline Hanson fish and chip shop' and had not been seen in NSW parliamentary forums. The NSW parliament ultimately endorsed Bell, with One Nation stating he was 'currently in the process of moving to NSW.' However, property records indicate Bell still owns a home in Ipswich, Queensland, and while he has declared ownership of a residential property on the NSW central coast, his wife does not appear to own property in NSW. When questioned about this discrepancy, a party spokesperson simply stated, 'All One Nation Senators are residents of the state in which they represent.'
What are your thoughts on this arrangement? Is it a strategic move for One Nation, or does it raise concerns about transparency and the use of public funds? Let us know in the comments below!
