One Nation has employed the daughter of its leader, Pauline Hanson, in a taxpayer-funded role as a senior advisor to a New South Wales senator, a position that could be worth up to $183,000 annually. Lee Hanson, who resides in Tasmania, was appointed as senior advisor to Senator Sean Bell in October of last year, according to a report by Guardian Australia.
The appointment raises questions about the employment of family members within the party, particularly given recent staffing changes and internal disputes. Bell, a former Queensland resident and long-time staffer to Hanson, filled a casual vacancy in the NSW Senate following the resignation of Warwick Stacey, who served for only six weeks citing health reasons.
Lee Hanson’s role encompasses spearheading the party’s expansion efforts in Tasmania, where One Nation has recently opened four of five planned new branches, and she also serves as the party’s national executive manager. According to her Facebook profile, she has been actively promoting One Nation’s presence in Tasmania and campaigning on local issues, stating the party “is surging” in the state.
The appointment comes after One Nation’s allocation of staff was reduced following a decision by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The party was allocated four “personal staff” after the last election, and despite winning two additional Senate seats, did not receive any further allocation. Pauline Hanson criticized this move as “capricious and politically motivated.” This reduction in staffing led to an unfair dismissal case brought by Aidan Nagle, a former advisor to Senator Malcolm Roberts, who was subsequently employed in Hanson’s office. The Fair Work Commission agreed to hear Nagle’s case, finding that the Prime Minister’s office actions had contributed to his termination.
Under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act, parliamentarians are prohibited from employing immediate family members. However, the act permits the employment of family members of other MPs, a point One Nation emphasized in response to inquiries. The party declined to answer specific questions regarding Lee Hanson’s employment, including which office holder was responsible for her hiring and how the role aligns with her responsibilities in Tasmania.
“Employment decisions within the elected offices of One Nation MPs and senators are based on merit and capability,” a party spokesperson stated. “One Nation does not believe in DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] or gender quotas unlike Labor, the Greens and Coalition.”
Senator Bell’s appointment to the NSW Senate was itself subject to scrutiny, as he was criticized for accepting the role while residing in Queensland. While there is no constitutional requirement for a senator to live in the state they represent, the appointment prompted debate in the NSW parliament regarding his suitability. Bell has declared ownership of a residential property on the NSW central coast in his register of declared interests to the Senate, though property records indicate he still owns a house in Ipswich, Queensland.
One Nation maintains that Bell is currently in the process of moving to NSW and that all its senators are residents of the states they represent. The party has not responded to questions regarding the discrepancy in property ownership records.
