Pauline Hanson plans to woo Barnaby Joyce to One Nation over a hearty dinner
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said today she will sit down to a home-cooked dinner with renegade Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce in a bid to entice him to her populist party.
She plans to lay out the advantages of Joyce defecting when the pair meet later this month, Hanson told the ABC.
"I will be heading to Canberra next week so I hope to catch up with Barnaby … and I intend to cook him dinner and have a good chat with him," she said.
READ MORE: Barnaby Joyce continues to dangle potential One Nation switch
Pauline Hanson says she'll meet Barnaby Joyce later this month to discuss his political future. AAP
Hanson insists the political future of the former deputy prime minister will be rosier if he ditches the Nationals.
For weeks there has been speculation Joyce will defect to One Nation since he announced he would not recontest his New England seat in NSW at the next election.
Hanson is enjoying a burst of support for One Nation at the expense of the Coalition, according to opinion polls.
Yesterday's Australian Financial Review/ Redbridge/Accent Research survey showed One Nation hitting a record 18 per cent of the primary vote.
"With the National Party on 4 per cent or 5 per cent at the moment, I think 18 per cent looks a lot more healthy to him," she said.
READ MORE: Australia at risk of destructive weather not seen for a decade
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has kept party bosses guessing about any defection to One Nation. ( Photo: Dominic Lorrimer Dominic Lorrimer
"So anyway, we can forge ahead because we're on the same page as net zero and working together.
"We can do a lot for the country".
Hanson says voters are flocking to One Nation, driven by disaffection with the mainstream parties and her movement's "clear-cut policies".
"One Nation is gathering more and more support because of the clear-cut policies that we are putting out there. We've been consistent with what the Australian people want," she says.
"It's not about what the elites … these treaties and agreements that we've signed. It's about governing ourselves … in the best interest for this country and future generations."
Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley, and Nationals Leader David Littleproud.( Photograph by Edwina Pickles). Edwina Pickles
Hanson also took a swipe at the Coalition's dumping of the net zero carbon emissions target, saying they've simply followed One Nation's lead.
"The Coalition don't know where they are.
"They're not even in sync with their counterparts in the states because the states are glued to net zero. So what is the federal [party] going to do about it when the states don't follow their lead?"
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
