‘It’s sexy’: Pauline’s shock announcement
Pauline Hanson will take to the skies in her own private plane after $2m in donations.
“BREAKING NEWS – I’ve got a new plane, Sarah,” the One Nation leader said in a social media post on Wednesday.
“Yes it was donated. Yes I’m super happy. Yes it’s fast. Yes it’s amazing.
“Yes it means I can visit more regional towns across the country more often.”
Senator Hanson described the aircraft – a Cirrus G7 that can retail for as much $2m – as “sexy” and said she would not be doing “welcome to country each (time) we land”.
She thanked stockbrokers and “patriotic Australians” Angus and Sarah Aitken for their “enormous” $1m “investment”.
Senator Hanson said Adam Giles and geologist Ian Plimer, the latter who claims climate models focus too much on the impact of carbon dioxide, donated $500,000 each – both men are employed by mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
“Their faith and investment in One Nation is an enormous help towards our next federal campaign and I can’t thank them enough,” she said.
“We have a lot of additional fundraising to undertake between now and the cut-off in December to combat the uni-party ahead of the 2028 federal election.”
Senator Hanson has faced criticism over her repeated use of mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s private jet.
The Guardian alleged Senator Hanson had failed to declare five flights in less than six months.
Senator Hanson singled out the publication in her Wednesday statement, writing: “Yes it’s going to annoy the Guardian.”
‘One Nation dance to Gina Rinehart’s tune’
Later, Treasurer Jim Chalmers took a swipe at Senator Hanson after being asked about her newly acquired jet.
“I think Pauline Hanson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gina Rinehart,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
“We know this because whenever Pauline Hanson is asked to vote in the interest of Australian workers, she instead votes in the interest of Gina Rinehart.”
He claimed One Nation had repeatedly prioritised the interests of its billionaire backer instead of hardworking Australians when it came to voting on issues like industrial relations or cost-of-living relief.
“I don’t think it’s a big surprise to see this very close relationship between One Nation and Gina Rinehart,” Mr Chalmers said.
“Gina Rinehart has got an agenda she has flagged before. She’s flagged things like getting rid of the minimum wage … And we’ve seen pretty frequently One Nation dance to Gina Rinehart’s tune.”
Hanson flaunts ‘sexy’ new plane before donor law change
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has taken to social media to show off a new million-dollar plane, donated by her supporters before political parties face tougher financial restrictions.
“I’ve got a new plane,” she announced in a post on X.
“Yes it was donated. Yes I’m super happy. Yes it’s fast. Yes it’s amazing. Yes it’s going to annoy the Guardian. Yes it means I can visit more regional towns across the country more often.
“No I won’t be doing welcome to country each we land. No it’s not battery operated.”
The aircraft is a Cirrus G7, with used models listed online for well over $1 million.
Senator Hanson said two donors – high-profile stockbroker Angus Aitken and his partner Sarah – had pitched in $1 million to One Nation.
Former NT chief minister Adam Giles and geologist turned climate-change sceptic Ian Plimer had poured in another $500,000 each, she said.
Mr Aitken, Mr Giles and Dr Plimer are close with billionaire Gina Rinehart, who in turn has been pouring money into One Nation.
“Their faith and investment in One Nation is an enormous help towards our next federal campaign and I can’t thank them enough.”
Senator Hanson said she was focused on raising more money for the anti-immigration party before new donations laws take effect in 2027.
Under the reforms, cashed-up individuals won’t be allowed to donate more than $50,000 to a political party – although independent MPs have pointed out loopholes in the policy which favour the major parties.
More Australians now approve of Senator Hanson’s party leadership than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s or Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s, according to the latest Essential poll.
The survey shows 52 per cent of Australians either approve or strongly approve of the job Senator Hanson is doing as One Nation leader, compared to 34 per cent who disapprove or strongly disapprove.
The reading is slightly ahead of Mr Albanese and well ahead of Mr Taylor, who sits on 34 per cent approving and the same proportion disapproving.