‘To be PM, what an honour that would be’

Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch and Pauline Hanson clash over One Nation’s future prospects.

BCM News. Pauline Hanson press conference at 1 Eagle St.

Pauline Hanson says she is “thrilled” with a Newspoll out today which shows primary support for independent parties jumping to 19 per cent, including 8 per cent for her One Nation party.

Senator Hanson said she had only scraped into the Senate six months ago, but knew how to build strong foundations.

“I’m so surprised and actually thrilled with the support we’re getting Australia-wide,” Senator Hanson told the Seven network.

“Politics, you can be up high one day and down low the next.

“As long as I keep listening to the Australian people and voicing their concerns, we’ll see where we go.”

Asked whether she dreamed of being PM following an interview over the weekend in which she outlined the policies One Nation would implement if it ever won government, Senator Hanson said she was humbled by merely being a Senator, but didn’t rule out any possibilities “down the track”.

“To be PM, what an honour that would be,” she said.

“It is a privilege to be the leader of the nation, but it is a tough position and I can understand that you can’t please everyone all the time.

“My job now is to represent the people of Queensland and to build the party.

“Maybe one day, down the track, in 15 or 20 years time, who knows what will happen.”

Senator Hanson’s crossbench colleague Derryn Hinch rubbished the notion of her ever reaching such heights.

“Pauline may be the leader of One Nation, but I can assure you shall not be leader of the nation,” he said.

“She’s dedicated, she believes in what she’s doing, but she will not form the opposition or government and that is the fact.”

Senator Hinch said the fact that the independents and Greens were polling a combined 29 per cent showed that the major parties were going through tough times.

One thing Pauline said that is right is that people are generally fed up with the major players,” he said.

“You saw it with Brexit, you saw it with Trump. We are very lucky. Because that is happening, the crossbenchers have much more say, more power than we could have ever dreamt.”

An indignant Senator Hanson thanked Senator Hinch for his vote of confidence.

“I don’t think you’re even on the radar whatsoever with your party,” she said. “I heard your New Year’s resolution was to get out there and listen to the people so that you know what to support on the floor of parliament. “Because you definitely got it wrong with the backpacker tax and the ABCC bill.”

With AAP