Pauline Hanson blasts ‘arrogant’ Tim Nicholls

PAULINE Hanson has labelled Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls “arrogant and rude” and says she would prefer dealing with his former leadership opponent Tim Mander.

PAULINE Hanson has labelled Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls “arrogant and rude” and says she would prefer dealing with his former leadership opponent Tim Mander.

The One Nation leader told the ABC her party is currently looking for a candidate to contest Mr Nicholls’ inner-Brisbane seat of Clayfield.

“I think he’s arrogant, I think he’s rude and I think it’s time for Tim Nicholls to go,” she said.

“I’d like to see Tim Mander, I think he would make a far better leader for the LNP than what Nicholls is,” Ms Hanson told ABC Radio.

Pauline Hanson said Tim Nicholls was rude. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

Mr Mander was considered a frontrunner in 2016 to take the leadership of the LNP from party elder Lawrence Springborg, in the wake of the Newman government’s crushing defeat, and was only narrowly beaten by former treasurer Mr Nicholls.

Ms Hanson also says she will review a policy announced just last week by her chief advisor James Ashby to put sitting MPs last in the case of Mr Mander and other Queensland MPs she believes are doing “good work”.

Senator Pauline Hanson said Tim Mander would “make a better leader”.

“Those ones that are doing the right thing by the state of Queensland and should be there, we are going to consider where we will put them on the ballot paper, and not all of them are going to go last.”

One Nation state leader Steve Dickson admitted on Thursday last week the “put sitting MPs last” policy was subject to change depending on circumstances. Mr Dickson, who defected to One Nation from the LNP earlier this year, was a supporter of Mr Mander when he was still a member of the party.

Current LNP frontbencher Scott Emerson played down the calls from Ms Hanson, saying there was “no love lost” between the two parties.

“I’ll back Tim Nicholls every day, because I know he’s out there talking to Queenslanders,” Mr Emerson told ABC Radio.