Pauline Hanson sheds light on Euro trip funding, says she won’t apologise for Gina Rinehart’s support

Pauline Hanson has declared she will not apologise for the financial support she has received from Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, as she finally shed some light on how her highly scrutinised trip to Europe was funded.

The One Nation leader told a West Australian breakfast event on Tuesday that her two-week “fact-finding” visit, in which she ducked out of meeting conservative and far-right figures in London to join Rinehart poolside in Sicily, was not paid for by the public.

“It didn’t cost the taxpayer one cent for my trip overseas. Not one cent,” she said in her first public appearance in Australia since leaving for Europe earlier this month.

Hanson did not say whether her trip was paid for by Rinehart or the $5 million she raised in an anti-Anthony Albanese campaign.

That will be revealed when the senator discloses her donations to the public register of interests and the Australian Electoral Commission.

Hanson went on to defend her relationship with Rinehart after copping criticism for their meeting in Sicily, where she also attended a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show.

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She said she has declared every donation she was received from the mining billionaire, including a $2 million light plane and $2 million in cash earlier this year.

“She’s a very proud, patriotic Australian, and she sees the same in me. That’s why she backs me,” she said.

“And I did get the plane from her. I declared that. I was right there in front of it.

“Everything’s declared, and I really appreciate all that.

“And I’m not going to apologise for that because for years, the major political parties have been getting millions and millions and millions out all these other organisations, corporations, banks, you name it, and the billionaires. But I don’t see the scrutiny on them.”

Rinehart has also lent her plane to Hanson five times since December 16 for four interstate visits and one international trip to Florida.

Hanson denies ever supporting White Australia policy

The One Nation leader has received criticism for comments she made in an interview with far-right Islamophobic agitator and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson.

She appeared to praise the White Australia policy by suggesting its end led to migration issues, after Robinson asked how Australia ended up with “Pakistanis, Somalis, all of these African problems with violent Africans”.

“It started in 1973 with Gough Whitlam, so they opened up and got rid of the White Australia policy, then they started bringing in the different migrants,” Hanson replied.

Hanson said she was only responding to Robinson’s question about how migration changed in Australia.

“He asked me why did it change. When did it change that you ended up getting Pakistani and Sudanese or Somalians into the country? That’s what he asked me,” she said.

“I said that changed in 1973 when Gough Whitlam came in and changed the White Australia policy. That’s why we started getting people in from these other countries.

“It was not me advocating the White Australia policy. I was telling him when it changed. I have never advocated for the White Australia policy.”

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Hanson, however, said she would deport people overstaying their visas and praised US President Donald Trump for his “great way” of dealing with illegal migrants.

She also went on to target Muslims and said she does not want migrants from so-called “radical Islamic countries”.

Hanson fails to back Joyce as her successor

The One Nation leader was asked if she was working to become prime minister following her record rise in the polls this year, to which she said it was a huge responsibility.

“If I was ever in that position, which could happen with extra action to take on a position being promised in this country, I could do it. I have no doubt about that,” she said.

“Let me tell you, it’s not about Pauline Hanson becoming prime minister.

“I want the right person in the right job, and if someone that I believe can do a better job than I can, you go for it.”

Asked whether former deputy prime minister and National turned One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce would be a potential successor, Hanson said she has not discussed it with him and it was a decision up to the people.

“I’m not advocating that Barnaby Joyce to take over, I’ve led this party, I’ve fought for what I’ve got,” she said.

Hanson added that she would like to add her daughter, Lee Hanson, to her team.

One Nation and Hanson’s popularity in the polls appears to be cooling since her first address to the National Press Club on June 17, where she made controversial remarks about monoculturalism and paid parental leave, both of which she had to later walk back.

Still, the latest Newspoll on Monday suggested One Nation was on par with Labor with 30 per cent of the primary vote.