Pauline Hanson re-elected to Senate; Amanda Stoker loses spot

Controversial One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been re-elected to the Senate, at the expense of former LNP senator Amanda Stoker.

Firebrand politician Pauline Hanson has been re-elected to six more years in the Senate after a tight election, pushing former frontbencher Amanda Stoker out of parliament.

Queensland’s six successful senators were determined on Friday afternoon after distribution of preferences by the Australian Electoral Commission.

In order of election, Queensland’s newly elected senators are James McGrath (LNP), Minister Murray Watt (ALP), Matt Canavan (LNP), Penny Allman-Payne (Greens), Pauline Hanson (One Nation) and Anthony Chisholm (ALP).

This means Senator Stoker, who served as assistant minister to the Attorney-General, women and industrial relations, has lost her spot in Parliament.

Amanda Stoker loses her spot. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Pauline Hanson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Griffith University political expert Dr Paul Williams said the overall result in Queensland had emerged as expected, but the “micro-details” proved unexpected.

He said it was “surprising” Senator Hanson had secured the fifth spot indicating the One Nation matriarch would have received a disproportionate amount of preferences — more than likely from right-leaning micro-parties.

Dr Williams said it was unexpected too that One Nation “ran so close to the wall” and that its main competitor turned out to be Legalise Cannabis and not Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

Senator Stoker, in a statement, said serving in parliament was an “immense privilege” she had “never taken for granted”.

“I ran for parliament to fight for the liberal and conservative values that have made Australia free and prosperous, to defend our institutions, and to ensure our sovereignty is protected,” she said.

“I ran to make a difference, and I am proud of what I was able to achieve over the past four years.”

Senator Stoker, a lawyer by trade, said her time in public office had meant many weeks away from family and she looked “forward to spending more of my time with them”.

Senator Hanson, in a statement thanking supporters, said the nation “needed representation which puts them and their country first more than ever”.

“Cost of living are skyrocketing. We have an energy crisis created by the major parties that One Nation has been warning about for many years,” she said.

The One Nation matriarch congratulated Mr Albanese for winning the election but reiterated she had previously said she didn’t think he would make a good Prime Minister.

“I sincerely hope he proves me wrong,” she said.

Queensland’s newest senator is the Greens’ Penny Allman-Payne, who is a teacher by trade and a long-time union member.

She is the second Greens senator to be elected in Queensland and has previously confirmed she would be based in Gladstone where she has lived on-and-off for more than a decade.

Senator Allman-Payne was on Friday also allocated responsibility as the Greens’ spokeswoman on northern Australia, schools, and “industry, transition and regional development”.