Defiant Hanson stares down critics

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has returned to Canberra vowing to stand by her most senior adviser.

Federal police are evaluating whether her chief of staff James Ashby flouted electoral laws when he suggested the party make money out of their Queensland state candidates.

"I'm going to ride this out," Senator Hanson told Sky News on Wednesday.

"They're trying to undermine me through James Ashby, to actually get rid of James because we work so well together."

Senator Hanson described Mr Ashby as "capable, a very articulate young man who has no ambitions to be a member of parliament".

The staffer has denied any wrongdoing.

"It was a silly idea and it didn't go anywhere," Mr Ashby said.

Labor senator Anthony Chisholm said Queensland deserved better than the One Nation leader.

"The senator's focus on this state election is to make a quick buck," he told reporters.

Senator Chisholm also criticised her absence from budget estimates hearings since she entered the upper house last year.