Major blow to Pauline Hanson after state’s last One Nation member quits over funding

The last member of One Nation in one Australian state has resigned in a major blow to leader, Pauline Hanson.

The last member of One Nation in NSW has resigned in a major blow to leader, Pauline Hanson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The last member of One Nation in NSW has resigned in major blow to Pauline Hanson, over claims she was kept in the dark about the party’s administrative arraignments.

Tania Mihailuk was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council in May 2023 following the resignation of former NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham that same year.

The former Bankstown mayor was the last remaining member of the Pauline Hanson’s party in the state following the departure of Mr Latham and Rod Roberts.

Despite taking the reigns of the party, Ms Mihailuk said in a Facebook post Friday she could not continue to represent the party when “not fully informed”.

“After much careful consideration, I have made the decision to end my membership of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation,” she said.

“Earlier this year, I came to an impasse with the party, and as a result, I do not wish to remain a member of PHON.”

Tania Mihailuk was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council in May 2023. Picture: Facebook

Ms Mihailuk said she respected that One Nation was Pauline Hanson’s party.

But, as an MLC, she said she owned a duty to her constituents to be confident administrative funding was “administered transparently” and in keeping with the NSW Electoral Commission’s legislative requirements.

“Despite being the NSW Leader and the only PHON MP in NSW, I feel I can’t continue to be the public face and representative of the party in NSW when I’m not informed fully about the administrative arrangements of the party within the state of NSW,” she said.

“I wish Senators Hanson and Roberts the best in pursuing the interests of Australians in the federal parliament. I also wish One Nation members the very best, and thank them for the support they have shown me during my time as NSW One Nation Leader. “

Her departure is a blow to One Nation leader, Senator Pauline Hanson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In her statement, Ms Mihailuk said her “values have not changed” and vowed to stay on the crossbench as a “conservative independent MLC, and continue to fight for the interests of my constituents.”

“Religious freedom and parental rights are well and truly under attack from the NSW Labor government, and I will remain on the front line of that fight,” she said.

“The review of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act is looming large in 2025, and I will be relentless in my pursuit to expose the anti-faith agenda that permeates the state government, aided and abetted by woke left wing activists.”

Ms Mihailuk was first elected to the Bankstown Council in 2004 and became mayor in 2006.

She was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in 2011 after being endorsed by Labor, but resigned from the party in 2023 after she was demoted by Chris Minns following a late-night speech targeting then-Canterbury mayor, Khal Asfour.