The Hanson Phenomenon Australia’s Most Controversial Politician | 60 Minutes Australia – Ty

 

Six weeks ago, hardly anyone had ever heard of Pauline Hansen. Now she’s the name in just about every radio bulletin, every television newscast and newspaper. No one can recall anything like it. She is a phenomenon. Not for who she is or what she says, but because so many are listening to her and agreeing with her.

The Hansen view as outlined in her maiden speech to parliament is that Australia is being swamped by Asians and that aboriges have too many privileges. And apparently that’s a view shared by millions. Though no one quite suspected the extent of support or that someone like a Pauline Hansen could attract it.

>> It’s about time someone else stood up and said it, but no one else has had the guts to say it. So keep work. We’re really proud of what you’re doing. Thanks very much. Keep up the good work. >> This is what happens wherever Pauline Hansen goes. >> I’m supporting you. >> The rewards of speaking loudly what others might only dare whisper.

This was on the gold post. >> No, I’m with you. >> Traffic engine. >> This in her hometown of Ipsswitch. I support what you do. What do I feel about you? I support you all the way. >> And this from a Townsville taxi driver. >> Pauline, I I definitely believe that you are getting the message across. Hey, listen. I’m one proud Australian.

I really am. It’s the people have got out there and they’re voicing their opinion and I think it’s great. You know, they’re taking the they’re taking the, you know, the the moment to have their say. And this is what I’m saying. I’m saying, “Hey, wake up Australia. Have your say before it’s too late.” How is it that Pauline Hansen has managed to tap into this one Pauline Hansen from Ipsswitch amongst hundreds of politicians? I look honestly um Casey I don’t I don’t really know why.

>> Since her now famous maiden speech, Pauline Hansen has received thousands of letters and faxes of support. >> Proof positive she believes that she’s speaking for mainstream Australia. >> But did you expect this many people? >> No. Did you expect to be on the front page of the newspaper practically every day? No, no, I didn’t.

>> You trying to run us down? Are you trying to run us down, Miss Hans? >> But nor did Pauline Hansen quite expect this. The hate, the hurt, the labels of racist and bigot. >> That’s the biggest laughing switch. Everyone hates you. >> Even in her hometown. >> I’m not going anywhere because this is my land and I was born here and I don’t know of any other place that’s home.

I belong here as much. as much as what you do. Now, just because you’re an Aboriginal is a weak excuse, AND DON’T USE IT as an excuse. >> Whether you think she’s dead right or dead wrong, Pauline Hansen’s views on Aborigines and immigration have had an unprecedented impact. The truth is she has a far wider agenda and plans to push it by endorsing like-minded candidates for parliament.

I’d like to find out just what your views are on a range of issues. Homosexuals. What’s your view? Where do they fit? >> That’s homosexuals. That’s their business, not mine. >> How do you react to the gay mardigra, which is really a celebration of homosexuality? No, I don’t I don’t like it because it’s promoting something, okay, that is not natural.

Welfare payments to single mothers. >> I look at it this way. Why should the government support single mothers with their first, second, and third child? First one, okay, as a mistake. But why should we keep paying for the second and third and fourth and so on? Do you believe that welfare payments encourage single mothers to have more children? >> Yes, it does.

>> What should happen to repeat sex offenders? Do you have a suggestion as to what should be done? >> Yes. Um, >> I think I should talk to some medical doctors first before I’ve opinion. >> Medical doctors. So you do you possibly have in mind something like chemical castration for repeat sex offenders? >> I mean >> in in in very horrendous situations possibly. Yes, I do.

>> Get in the car. >> Head down. There you go. >> I said car. >> Get in the car. >> I didn’t. There you go. >> Pauline Hansen is big on law and order. >> You heard me, eh? When police arrested one of those who’d argued with her on the streets of Ipsswitch, not only did she think he should face a court for swearing, she thought he was a prime candidate for her truly grand plan.

>> I’m talking about foul language. Okay. That was used against me in the street of Ipsswitch. >> And uh it’s not acceptable. >> Thanks, guys. >> All right. Not a problem. So do you think that national service is a way to restore that respect for authority, that sense of discipline? >> I do. Yes, I do.

You see, what I’ve called for is a more or less a civil service upon finishing the year 12 or reaching 18 years of age and a 12 month national service. What’s happening is we’re having overeducated people out there. We’re getting overeducated people and we haven’t got the jobs for them. if they went into a service and they could do things like building roads, bridges, railway lines, >> roads, bridges, railway lines, reforestation, look after our um environmental, our rivers and everything like that. Tman trade.

>> Many of Pauline Hansen’s visions are like that. >> Visions that are rooted in the past, simple homespun solutions learned at the family dinner table. Pauline was too young to know about national service. So that’s one of my ideas. Definitely get the ls off the street and give him something to do and to help them.

>> Pauline’s mother, Nora, has raised seven children. Four girls and three boys. >> If you haven’t got the work ethic, >> like Pauline, all seem to yearn for the way things were. >> Simpler times, clearer values, honest virtues. There’s a lot of people out there, they don’t want to work. They don’t know what work is.

Now, we are a work orientated family. And maybe it’s good and maybe it’s bad. We’ve worked very hard, all of us. But if everyone pulled together and did their bit, this place would be a better place to live. >> So, I take it no one at the table disagrees with anything that Pauline had to say in her maiden speech in parliament or since.

>> No, we’re all we’re all 100% >> Yep. 200%. And forget about political correctness. It’s definitely not served up with the tea and sticky bun in this household. >> Do you feel that we’re in danger of being swamped by Asians? >> Well, if you go back to when I was young, I was always taught the yellow race will rule the world.

And if we don’t do something now until we catch up a little bit, I’m afraid. Yes, the yellow race will rule the world. >> Pauline Hansen was never expected to win a seat in federal parliament. After all, Oxley was safe Labor territory. It was Bill Hayden’s old seat. And here she was standing as the unlikely Liberal candidate.

Then, of course, as soon as she opened her mouth to tell Australians that Aborigines were getting a free ride on the taxpayers’s back, well, the Liberal Party dropped her like a hot potato. It now seems that her disendorsement by the Liberal Party was Pauline Hansen’s ticket to Canra.

She was still the only choice in the electorate for Liberal voters and now as an independent suddenly an attractive choice for disaffected Labour voters. >> Hi. >> Good day. >> How are you? >> Not too bad. >> Good to see you again. >> Hey. >> Pauline came to Canra as a lonely independent. >> Within days she’d found a fellow traveler in Graham Campbell thrown out of the ALP for his comments on race.

Oh, thanks. >> It must have been music to your ears to to hear Pauline saying the same things that you’ve been saying. >> Yes, but I think Pauline like I was listening to mainstream Australia. Mainstream Australia is saying this. If governments don’t listen to us, they’re going to end up listening to people far more radical than us.

>> I think a lot I think people’s I’ve said I’ve told other people about she’s let the genie out of the bottle. >> John Pascarelli was Graham Campbell’s senior staffer. Now he’s at Pauline Hansen’s side. >> Realizing her potential to advance his own agenda, Campbell sent Pascarelli over the day Hansen was elected.

>> And the attacks on her by the media were just grotesque. They’re appalling. Now thrown into deep end that she needed some support. >> Pascarelli is a longtime warrior of the far right. He has at various times also been a crocodile shooter, gold miner, papu guini member of parliament and liberal party candidate.

>> He is now crafting Pauline Hansen’s political profile. You talk about mainstream Australia, but how do you define mainstream Australia? >> I think you see mainstream Australia every time you go to the football, to the races, to the beach, to the outback. mainstream Australia. I think it’s it’s fairly self-evident.

>> So excluded from your definition of mainstream Australia are obviously a number of minority lobby groups outside the >> That’s right. They tend to stand outside the rest of what I call mainstream stream Australia and they’ve been encouraged to do it by both parties. >> So you might be talking about say, you know, the the Jewish lobby in Melbourne.

>> Well, lot of the Jewish people can totally embrace mainstream Australia, but then some of them don’t. And that would include migrants >> of course because by virtue of their differences, cultural differences, religious differences, they they they are living in I mean you can use the word ghetto but there are ghettos.

>> Isn’t it a bit rich for someone with a name like Pascarelli? >> I’ve been dewed. >> 40% of all migrants into this country were of Asian origin. They have their own culture and religion form ghettos and do not assimilate. The maiden speech that inflamed Australia was a masterpiece of headline grabbing and rare eloquence.

>> Then I should have the right to have a say in who comes into my country. >> Hansard credits Hans multicultural >> who wrote it. >> Can never >> Well, look, I work for Paul and I’m her senior adviser. I help her uh draft out press releases. I help her write speeches. Arthur Cwell was the last great immigration minister and he was firmly turned tuned into what ordinary Australians wanted.

>> Pauline Hansen is not exactly a polished speaker. >> But what she lacks in style, she makes up for by telling people what they want to hear. >> Our men and women have split blood defending this homeland of ours. Today in Melbourne before the proun Australia reform party, she’s preaching to the converted.

In her own electorate, she’s actively courted the shooters vote. When you say our men and women have spilt blood defending this homeland of ours, and it’s up to us to make sure their sacrifice was not in vain. What exactly do you mean? In World War II, we went and we fought the Japanese from actually taking over these shores.

these this land of ours and what’s hurting the Australian people out there is that the government just can see them coming over now and virtually letting them take over. They don’t have to be citizens here to own for to own freehold land in this country. >> So this gets this gets to your this gets to your your idea then that we are in danger of being swamped by Asians.

That’s what that’s what you’re talking about. >> No, what I would like to see is that there be a balance back to our immigration policy. And as I have said that we have got 40% between 1984 to 1995 so far 40% of migrants into this country are Asians. I would like to see more of a balance.

Well, let’s look at some actual numbers then. There are 866,224 Asian-born Australians out of a population of over 18 million. Now, is that in in danger of being swamped? >> I don’t believe those figures. Well, these are from the Department of Immigration. >> They’re, as far as I’m concerned, they’re booked figures. I don’t believe those figures.

>> Are you xenophobic? Please explain. >> Xenophobia means a fear of all things foreign. >> No, I don’t think I am. No, I’m not. Is there Is it a problem? Just because I might be Yeah. I find this very hard because I have to sort of clarify all my what I think and how I feel about things. >> Precisely.

Well, precisely because you are a federal politician. You’re not just sitting We’re not just sitting around in a pub talking about things. You’re a federal politician. You’re standing up in federal parliament making these statements. So of course you should be expected >> which the majority of mainstream Australians are backing me on this issue because they believe in what I’m saying also. They can see it also.

But it’s all these minority lobby groups who don’t like the fact of what I’m saying is because it’s going to upset their little world and they’ve got a problem with it. Not I. All I know is what comes from here inside. And by talking to the people out there in mainstream Australia and their fears also.

So it’s from the heart, not from the head. >> I’m I’ve been learning once I’ve got it since I’ve been in this job. It’s been a big learning curve for me. >> She is a racist and her policies are inflicting harm on people. >> Hansen is grist for the protesters milling. >> Today it’s Melbourne University, but her extreme views make her an obvious target not only for students, but right across politics.

One of her most strident critics is former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. >> She is just plain wrong. And she’s wrong in a way that can lead to very great evil. >> Evil. >> Yes. because um if she got to the stage of being able to influence the policies of this government, isn’t it an evil outcome if Australia tries to turn itself into a racist society in the kind of world we’re living in? >> Well, you’ve now seen the impact of your calls to halt Asian immigration.

Have you figured that perhaps life is just a little more complicated than rolling down the shutters? >> As what? What do you mean rolling down the shutters? As far as what? >> Closing the front gate, drawing the blinds, cutting Australia off from the rest of the world. >> Do I propose that? >> It would appear so.

>> Cutting cutting Australia off from the rest of the world. >> It would appear so. >> I think I’m more concerned about it. um Australia and the people here. You see, I’m I’m trying to say, let’s clean up our own backyard and look after our own here before we worry about everyone else and overseas.

They’re not concerned about us. Let’s get that straight. >> They withdraw from the United Nations. >> Just a sec. Let’s withdraw from the United Nations. Let’s Let’s cease all foreign aid. Let’s halt all immigration. >> That’s right. >> Closing and bolting the front door. >> I think you’re over dramatizing things here a bit.

I think you want to look at the unemployment that we have in here in this country and start with immigration. Why should people come out here and get on to our welfare system? It’s only because the government has actually put a shutter on that themselves that they have to be here 2 years before they get on to a welfare system.

Why should the taxpayer be out there paying for someone else to come and live in this country? They don’t even have to know English or even have have to um we are putting this all up for them. What is one to conclude from that other than you are xenophobic and racist? >> No, it’s not. It’s wanting to know how this country is going to look in 50 or 100 years time from this >> and you’ve got a base.

Why? Why are you making me out to look as if I’m a racist? Why don’t you go and ask Japan their immigration policy or Korea or Sri Lanka? Ask them how they feel about white people going into their own country. And yet you respect their views and they can have be proud of their own homogenity, but if I voice my opinion, I’m I’m made to look as if I’m a racist.

I I don’t um I won’t cop that. Pauline Hansen did admit to us during filming of this story that although she’s highly critical of what she calls migrant ghettos such as Sydney’s Cabraata and Melbourne’s Springvale, she hasn’t actually visited either. Nor has she ever visited an Aboriginal community. What are you going to have? Can I have two pieces of mullet, please? A piece of sea perch and eight white fillet.

>> Australia’s most famous fish and chip shop lady left school at the age of 15. She has four children from two failed marriages. >> I regard myself as the average Aussie battler out there. I’m a woman that’s had a breakdown in marriages. I’m a woman that’s run my own small business. So, what did you learn in all of those years working long hours in that fish and chip shop? >> That no one else owes me a living.

>> Okay. And you’ve got a steak sandwich and old perch and chips to go on. And you’ve got >> the view from the fish shop window is of a neatly divided world. There are hard workers like herself and bludgers, the welfare recipients and aboriges she believes are ripping off the system. Do you regret now making sweeping generalizations like Aborigines are a privileged class? >> No, I said they receive privileges that other people don’t receive because of their because they’re Aboriginal and which is true and you cannot deny

that they do. >> Or what about the fact that life expectancy for Aboriginal women is 19 years less than that for non-abboriginal women? Aboriginal men die 18 years younger than non-abboriginal men. Is that not disadvantaged? >> We’ve got Now just be realistic about this. And people can’t deny that in a lot of these communities there is a big drink problem.

>> What about infant mortality then? The infant mortality rate is two to three times higher than in the white community. And again, it can be related to the drink because the money is going onto the drink onto alcohol and therefore not decent food is being bought for and put on the table for these for these children.

>> Aboriginal people are incarcerated at 28 times the rate of non-abboriginal people. >> Again, we’ve got to look at problems with um the conditions that they live in that they want to live in. >> All right. So your position is that if Aborigines die younger, their babies die more often and they’re jailed more often, they brought it on themselves.

Is that right? >> In the ways that they want to live. >> She’s telling a lot of [ __ ] She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s a racist person who’s getting using the privilege of parliament to slam Asians, abinal people, and all good Australians. >> Charles Perkins has spent a lifetime trying to reconcile black and white Australia.

Then along came Pauline Hansen >> in the fish and chip shop. You do very good there, but not out in the public. >> And on the midday show last month, Perkins frustration spilled over. >> Just not enough. And I’d invite her >> to come out to some of the settlements and reserves and have a look. >> Would you do that? >> Well, yes. Okay, fine.

>> We have that. Pauline Hansen with we’re told almost 50% of Australia on side is flying in for that meeting. She’s traveling to Palm Island off Townsville where if you accept the Hansen view there are simple answers to Aboriginal problems. But on Palm Island, nothing is simple. You know that’s been one of the tragedies of uh race relations in this country is that a lot of people don’t realize that most ainal communities don’t have decent water to drink, don’t have proper sewage.

The houses are overcrowded, three or four families. You can’t get education in those circumstances. >> We got to do something ourselves. And Pauline makes a point about that and she’s right. But, you know, it’s very difficult to help yourself if you haven’t got the education or the employment skills or good health and uh you’re so remote. It’s very difficult.

>> Who knows Mrs. Hansen? I do see Mrs. Hans on TV. >> Yeah. Shane. >> Yeah. Good. Anybody like to ask Mr. Hansen questions? >> Why did you come to this Alan? >> Um, probably on the media as you have seen. I’ve had ma I have made some statements and I have said things and this is all part of my job to see actually see firsthand for myself.

Palm Island was once a penal settlement for aboriges. >> For these kids’ parents there is no work here and there never has been. >> It’s home to these people because their parents and grandparents were exiled here. >> You’ve opened up a can of worms. That’s fine with us, but we want something positive coming out of a negative statement.

>> The administration has been given the dollars to look after their own people, and they haven’t done their job. Hang on a minute. You’ve had control. The European The European people have had control of this country for 209 years. You’ve made a mess of it in 209 years, and you expect ATS to clean it up in six? Now, >> there is actually agreement around this table that ATS has wasted money.

But cutting off funding altogether these women see as simply naive >> room. You are very young person now. You quoted your age as 42. That is still very young. Not so much in age I’m talking about his but in knowledge. What I would like see you do Pauling is to be educated. >> If the community did pull together and and you know clean it up because it would be a nice place.

Palm Island is a place of shame for white Australians. >> As late as the 1950s, Aborigines were being chained up here for daring to descent. But to Pauline Hansen, what’s past is passed. >> Clean it up. Pull together as as a community working together and take pride in it. >> Our agreement is that Pauline will be given a guided tour by community leaders including Tom Guyire.

Then later with adviser John Pascarelli talk about what she’s seen with Charles Perkins. >> It’s a beautiful place here. >> But all Pauline Hansen has seen all day is rubbish and more rubbish. >> If you have an affinity for the land and everything, then why is so much rubbish laying around the streets here? >> That’s a minor thing.

>> It’s not a minor thing. If you’re supposed to be so in tune with the land, then why are you living in with all that rubbish lying around the streets? Once again, it’s a misunderstanding on your part of Paul and of ainal culture. There’s lots of things to do in a community and this community has been cut back by 150.

>> Charles, it’s the leadership. Now, you were put in that position as as a commissioner on the ads board to do a job for your people. And have you really done been the leader that you were supposed to be? >> I have. Yes. And I if you’re going to get personal about it, what have you done since you’ve been a parliamentarian except just blast everybody around the globe? All you’ve done is carried on with racist, stupid, ignorant remarks.

Now you can you can say that about me. I can say that about you. The fact is the reality of is this is an this is a community like there are hundreds of communities right around Australia. They’re battling on. They haven’t got sufficient funds. They can’t cope with what they’ve got at present time. >> When is it enough money? There’s not a bottomless pit out there.

>> The money. It’s what Pauline Hansen rails against in Canra. There she takes account of how much money is spent. here. She sees how little difference it makes. >> What do you see when we drive past these houses? What about Well, there’s windows broken there now. Why have a lot of these houses got windows that are broken? Um, >> who broken is what you’re saying.

>> Well, why are they in this condition? Why are boards pulled off? >> They’re they’re in this condition because of the overcrowdedness. There’s people who sleep on the dining tables, people who sleep in the bathroom. you know, naturally you can you you’ve got to expect some amount of of um destruction, you know, to the property itself.

>> That’s the same all over Australia with ainal people. It’s overcrowding. They don’t want to live in a busted house. They’d like nice housing for themselves and their kids. So then come kids can come home and study on the table, but they just don’t get that opportunity. >> What do you propose be done about the alcoholism rate in this community, which is between 70 and 80%? >> I estimate around 70%. Yeah.

>> Yeah. That’s not correct. Not in the sense of what’s an alcoholic a there’s two people. One who’s an alcoholic and one who social problem drinker. And that’s what most ainal people in Australia today. You know who the greatest drunks in the world are? The greatest drunks before Germany in terms of beer consumption and wine consumption.

Australians, white Australians. They’re the biggest drunks in the world. White Australians. They turn around and say the abinal people are drunks. They’re bigger drunks than ainal people. And they’ve got a lot of education. >> No, it does not. You have got a problem with alcohol in a lot of your communities, you know.

So it is and and therefore out of that you’ve got domestic violence, don’t you? >> If you want people not to drink so much, give them a job. And this is what Bob Walk didn’t do enough of, nor Keing didn’t do enough of, nor Howard’s not doing enough of focusing on the economy, give people a chance to get a job and they won’t have to go and drink during the daytime.

>> After seeing what you’ve seen at Palm Island, I mean, do you accept now that that you were wrong to assume that these problems have simple solutions? Palm Island is isolated from the mainstream Australia. Those people are there because they want to be there and it is causing problems because they want to live there.

>> Where would you suggest they go? >> Well, I’m not saying that they up and leave, but they’ve got to accept it that they are away from mainstream Australia. >> What do you propose be done about it beyond abolishing ATS? >> Well, they’ve got to start doing something for themselves. First off, if they start cleaning up the environment that they’re living in, and possibly then from there, they might be able to do something with a bit of a tourist trade, but you will not get tourists over there unless they clean up clean up

their own act. I mean, is there room enough in your heart to be caring and tolerant and sensitive? >> Don’t say, is there room enough in my heart? Yes, I am. I’m a very caring person, but I tell you what, you’ve got to be hard. You got to be cruel to be kind. Last year, when Pauline Hansen was just a political nuisance rather than a threat to the government with her views on immigration, we asked her here on 60 Minutes, was she xenophobic? Famously, she replied, “Please explain.

” Now, as her bandwagon rolls on, picking up more supporters, getting louder and more strident, it’s we who’ve gone to Pauline Hansen to ask her to please explain, to please explain some of the claims she’s making that have so inflamed political debate here. Claims that on the one hand are building a massive following for her, but on the other are provoking some of the most passionate protests we’ve ever seen in this country.

HEY. HEY. >> WHILE thousands of Australians have taken to the streets to protest against Pauline Hansen, only the chosen few are allowed up close and personal. >> Ladies and gentlemen, PAULINE HANS say all of us. her attitude. >> Thank you all very very much. >> She wasn’t thrilled to see 60 Minutes again, but her mind has persuaded her to let us in.

>> Just to inform everyone here that actually 60 Minutes are here and I’ve asked Jeff, is there any any inclination that is there going to be a word like um similar to xenophobic? So, um, >> these Tasmanians have paid for this privilege, a private audience uninterrupted with the darling of the far right. >> The day you made your maiden speech, I sat and listened to it all the way through.

I thought, here’s somebody we can listen to. >> What you see behind the scenes is a more relaxed woman, cheered by the fact that so many Australians apparently share her views on immigration, Asians, and aboriges. Why can’t I get a $150 or $250 a day to send my children to school for shoe money? >> They get $250 a day to send their children to school. They get shoe money.

Why am I Because I’m white. So different. And I’m not a racist. I am not a racist. >> Yeah. >> But see, I I don’t believe Australians are racist. They’re not. We are very VERY >> TOLERANT RACIST. THE WAR AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN CONSTANT FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS. >> Have you begun to be frightened by some of the demonstrations? >> No, not at all.

>> There seems to be a lot of hate in the air. Isn’t that dangerous? That’s only coming because the people out there are not really getting the true message across. What I am trying to say, how could there possibly be hate from anyone when you call for equality for all Australians? >> The Morgan poll just out this week says that about 66% of Australians believe that you are the one stirring the pot, that you are inciting this racial intolerance that’s around at the moment.

>> No. This this hate that’s out there is from people who clearly can see that they have got the most to lose and the majority of Australians are the ones who have been forgotten. >> The protesters say it’s patently obvious what the one nation party stands for. You think it was enough? >> But backstage, still writing her speech, Pauline Hansen sounds absolutely convinced she’s the victim of a great conspiracy to silence her and stop the One Nation Party dead in its tracks.

>> What do you think most of them have come to hear? >> To hear the truth from Pauling Hansen and not just what the media put across. >> What do you think your real message is being filtered or distorted? People believe it has been and that’s why the crowd’s come to hear me personally. >> You only look good from this.

>> But this audience never heard that speech. The course of the protest, the meeting was cancelled. >> We’re pulling a pin on it, mate. Okay. Okay. Just don’t say anything yet, will you? Okay. You just up along the stage and stop people coming up. Watch this space ladies and gentlemen because in the end good and truth always win. Thank you.

Last night, 200 of society’s thugs intimidated, abused, and attacked democracy in this country. >> What happened in Hobart was more proof for Pauline of that great conspiracy. >> She talks about it all the time. If it’s not the media, it’s the politicians. 24 hours after Prime Minister Howard and Kim Beasley attacked me in the media, the civil disobedience they incited was perpetrated on honest, law-abiding citizens in Tasmania.

>> That is plainly stupid and ridiculous and untrue. It is a a desperately dishonest thing for her to say. It is time for resolve. For if we fail, all our fears will be realized and we will lose our country forever and be strangers in our own land. >> You seem to be afraid of many things. You’re afraid of Asian invasion.

You’re afraid there might be a civil war. You’re afraid of losing Australia as we know it today. Well, I’ve been around the world a hundred times. I think this country is paradise. I think this country we have we have less to be afraid of than anywhere I’ve been. >> Would you please go and tell the people out there that then? >> Because if that’s the case, why am I getting the support that I’m getting? >> And you don’t think that you’re making people afraid by talking it up so bad by saying that we’re going to be invaded by

I mean, civil war. Do you really think we’re going to have a civil war? No. And I didn’t say those words either. >> Do you really think we’re going to be invaded by an Asian country? >> Let’s um let’s clarify that civil war. That was an editor’s headline. Do you want race rights, religious fanaticism, gang and drug wars? >> Do you want civil war? >> So, you never warned that Australia could disintegrate into civil war? >> No.

There is no um I’ve never said that we’re going to have a civil war. When when you’ve got everyone, the whole world, it seems, has come against one woman. When when that happens, she must be saying something that’s right. >> Her supporters like the way she shoots from the lip. The less she sounds like a regular politician, the more they like her.

But her critics find it maddening that she can inflame so much passion with wild exaggeration. >> By the year 2040, 53.6% of our population would be Asian. The immigration minister, Mr. Radic, says that by 2040 only 7 and a half% of the population will be Asianborn. That would mean that he’s suggesting Asians would still be a small minority.

>> Well, that’s not taking into account the figures that um when they come out here that you’re still going to have children born here to Asians. So, the figures are going to be definitely higher. I mean, how do you know who’s coming in, who’s counting? >> Because of the figures that I have, you know, by the stats >> from the bureau of statistics.

>> But you’re saying you’re saying 53.6% of Australians when we look around will be Asian, be Asianborn, plus the the descendants of those Asian-born people. >> That would be an extraordinary change in the in the makeup of Australia, wouldn’t it? >> Exactly. That’s why I’m very concerned about it.

But do you really think it’s going to happen? >> Well, Jeff, what I’ll do is I’ll um I’ll give you a um copy of these figures, >> and please take the time to have a look through them, read them. >> So, we did. Pauline Hansen’s immigration figures are not from the CRA Bureau of Stats, but from a retired doctor living on the Gold Coast who’s disgruntled about Asian immigration.

For his figures to be right, Australia would have to take in over 40 million Asians. And in 30 years, our total population must grow to 140 million people. Plainly, no one believes that. The fact is, Pauline Hansen’s immigration rate is wrong by about 1,000%. >> Pauline Hansen angrily denies that she’s racist. But ask this man.

>> There’s no doubt she’s stirring up racial tensions and straining relations with our Asian neighbors. If you go on beating up on Asians, isn’t there a danger that they might stop buying our products? Look with does this mean that it’s a it’s bribery that you take our Asian migrants and we’ll do trade with you? What sort of country do we want? Do we be want to become just a tourist country where we’re turning down beds for everyone else in this country? See our kids doing that? >> You’re saying that you don’t even like

the tourism. You don’t like turning down beds for Asian tourists? I want to see this country proud like we used to be with the industry and manufacturing that we used to have here. That you could pick up an item and see made in Australia, not walk down the aisles putting groceries in your shopping trolley that are 80% foreign own or foreign made.

The struggle’s been too hard and we’ve got to start getting this country back. getting back our industry, our manufacturing, and getting jobs back in this country for our children and our future generations. >> Another of Pauline Hansen’s claims, winning her such support, is that all Australian manufacturing companies will soon be taken over by foreigners.

>> What makes you think that we will have lost all of our Australian companies by the year 2005? >> It’s statistical. It’s in the It’s written in the um in the OSBY guide which clearly states which are Australian owned companies and which are not. >> You believe they’ll all be gone by the year 2005. >> It states that the Liberal and Labor parties will no longer know what to do by the year 2005 because all our major companies and resources would have been sold off.

>> But I work for a big Australian company. Why would the Packer family want to sell a company like this one? I said all most of our major companies and resources. >> Yeah. >> In your speeches you’ve been saying that by 2005 they would all be gone. >> Our major companies and resources will be all sold off. Yes, that’s right.

Foreign investment is is fine. But as long as we have control over it. But what’s happening is we are losing too much of the money is going back overseas and share prices and dividends. But how much money do you think we’re losing in dividends? >> Approximately around about $200 billion a year. >> How do you work that out? I mean, where did you get that figure from? >> Again, in in the OS by Guide.

>> Pauline Hansen’s Bible on foreign investment is the OSBY guide put out by the Australian-owned companies association as part of a buy Australian campaign. The trouble is the figures Miss Hansen is using to scare people are not the ones in the OSBY guide. She says that $200 billion a year is going overseas in dividends, but the OSBY guide says it’s just 20 billion.

The author of the OSBY Guide, Harry Wallace, says he is certainly not a Pauline Hansen supporter. >> And I will tell you now, there’s no puppet pulling the strings of Pauline Hansen. So, where does she get it from? >> Looking over her shoulder, we found she certainly writes most of her own material. >> I know I am not a racist, but in my heart, a very patriotic Australian who cares very deeply for her country and its people.

But in the back rooms are operators like David Etridge, national director of the One Nation Party, a former charity fundraiser. >> Pauling Hansen’s One Nation. Good afternoon. >> And in her Parliament House office, a renegade from the Liberal Party, David Oldfield, Hansen’s new principal adviser and very likely her first candidate for the Senate.

>> Certainly, you could expect that we would win Senate seats in each state. If you don’t make it, if One Nation falters, isn’t there a risk that just as the Joe for Camber bid really only damage the coalition’s chances that basically you’ll let down conservative voters? >> Well, perhaps John Howard’s coalition will be damaged.

But if that’s the case, they’ll have only had themselves to blame for allowing the rise of Pauline Hansen and they’ve allowed it to happen because they themselves have ignored Middle Australia. We’ll pray for you in your in your future dealings with the parliament and Mr. Howard particularly and anybody else who opposes your thinking.

>> As people like Peter Murray, Tasmanian president of the National Party lend support. What’s clear is that Pauline Hansen is already doing serious damage to the coalition. As much as John Howard might want it, she’s not going to go away soon. >> Where do you think your party is headed? I want my party to have enough of an influence in either lower house or if not definitely the Senate so that the government has to stop and listen to what we are trying to say and listen to the voice of Australia.

So many people out there are fed up. They’ve had enough because their parties are not even listening to them. One of your old supporters has been saying to I don’t know where she’s going to go. She thinks she can walk on water. I mean, are you becoming too big for your riches? >> I’m still as down to earth now as what I was before I won the seat.

>> Something extraordinary happened in Queensland yesterday. A woman who just a week ago the prime minister called deranged changed the face of Australian politics. At the Queensland elections, Pauline Hansen’s One Nation party took around 25% of the vote to win nine, possibly 10 seats, leaving the final outcome very much in doubt.

Now, no totally new party has ever achieved such a result. And the message from it is clear. A sizable chunk of Australia has had it with mainstream parties and the way they’re governing us. And the really bad news for politicians working on early election strategies is that this maverick party is now up running and about to gate crash the federal poll.

>> It was only 2 years ago Pauline Hansen was unknown selling fish and chips here in Ipsswitch. But at midnight, she came back to town as the conquering hero. >> She told Paul Lam the fact that she’s not your average politician is precisely why she’s popular. >> Do you think they’re fed up with with politicians generally, poly speak and noncore promises and all that sort of thing? >> That’s all part of it. Yes, it is.

You see, they don’t trust politicians and they >> Why should they trust you? Why are you different? >> Well, I think you should go and ask the people of Queensland. Why do they look at me as being different? Look, Paul, I’ve never claimed to be a Polish politician by no means. I speak from the heart.

I tell people how straight how I see it. And I try to be honest. And you know, the main thing is I love this country and I really care very much for the Australian people out there, but they’ve been kicked in the guts for far too long. and I’m going to stand up and I’m gonna be the voice for them. >> You almost make an asset out of the fact that you’re not a real Polly.

You’re someone who sort of wandered into this a bit by accident. >> I didn’t wander into it by by accident at all. It was it was something. Look, I chose to get into politics because I was concerned at the direction this country was headed in. If I can achieve anything, and I feel I have, just to wake Australians up to the fact of don’t be so apathetic about your future and the future of this country, I’ve achieved something, Paul, more than what I ever dreamed of.

>> Probably won’t be in the near. >> It’s going to be a long winter of discontent for federal politicians. Many sounded that warning last night, including former Liberal Minister Sir James Kllin. >> This is absolute nonsense to think that it pulls up at the border at Ken Gat. No, this is right throughout Australia.

It has in my view vast implications for the the federal government >> and I guess uh it’s a lesson for everyone that we have got to conduct ourselves respectfully. >> Like Sir Joe before her, Pauline Hansen has hit on a dissatisfied electorate. >> Joe, thank you very much for that. I really do appreciate it.

The difference is that where Joe failed south of the border, Pauline’s support appears to be nationwide. >> A few quick issues that are in the arena at the moment. The Australian dollar, I mean, what would one nation do to defend the dollar? >> Well, it was a shame that the dollar was actually floated and that’s why we’re in such problems that we are now.

I don’t know a tremendous lot about it to actually talk on these issues now, but I believe that Australia is going to be in serious problems a little bit further down the track with the crash of the Aussie dollar. And this is why I’d like to see us sort of regroup all our energies here in Australia to actually look after us with industry manufacturing and not put so much into the hands of other foreigners.

>> So, you’d want to put up tariffs? Paul, I’ve always said that you must protect your own product here in Australia >> and unemployment. How would you tackle that? >> Well, if I start telling you all my um how I intend to do it, well, I’m releasing my policies and I intend to release my policies with it.

But what I have said is part of our Queensland policy on the apprentichip scheme is we’re going to allow a thousand apprenticeships in Queensland for 15 and 16 year olds. So they’re eventually in the long run we’re going to have our own homegrown tradesmen and women of Australia and not bringing in migrants from overseas to fill these positions >> and tax reform.

You’re against a GST? >> Yes, I am. I don’t think it’s in the best interest of Australia. >> And in Queensland, you think the state should withdraw from the National Firearms Control Scheme? >> I’ve um I’m not sure about that one. Um Paul uh >> you do want to to see some of these um military style weapons back in in use in Queensland.

>> Paul with with this is where people are saying about my policies here. What we’ve said about the semi-automatics and the military style weapons can only be held by people who are in sporting clubs or for legitimate reasons. That doesn’t mean that everyone’s running around with these with the guns out there.

We’re also going to come down very hard on people who commit crimes with a gun, which has never been in place. It’s never been hard enough. So, we’re really sort of tightened up, probably tighter than what it was before. >> Some say that given your attitude to to Asians and your your attitude to immigration that there could be a real slump in investment and tourism in Queensland.

What do you say to that? >> What I said was I’m I’m frightened that we might be swamped by Asians by the number that we had coming in. All I’ve asked for is a balance restored to the number of Asians coming into Australia. >> But what Australia? Because you said a few days back, “What the hell’s wrong with going back to the 50s and 60s?” >> Oh, no. I’ll always say that, too.

>> But the trouble is most of the rest of the world’s in 1998. >> No, when you go back to the 50s and 60s, you didn’t have the crime. you and you didn’t have your aged people who who as soon as the sun went down that they were locking their selves behind bars at night, you know, employment in the 1960s unemployment was two 2.6%.

Industry manufacturing employed 27 and a half%. What’s wrong with that? >> Well, but we have now a global economy. The reality is different now. We’re part of a different environment, aren’t we? We’ve got to learn to live with the the present and the future. >> What? even though it’s worse for you, even though our standard of living has dropped, even though unemployment in Australia is running at 19%.

Is that wonderful? Is that something that you just accept and you say you can’t do anything about it? Well, I’m sorry. I’m not throwing in the towel. And that’s something maybe you and a lot of other these politicians and journalists out there have no idea because you know what? This is what the people of Australia want back.

>> But can they really realistically get it? You can voice their complaints and grievances, but in the end, you can’t pull the 1950s rabbit out of the hat for them. >> It’s >> you can’t do it. Surely, >> Paul, why don’t you bring in the the policies, implement the policies that it’s going to get back this to the people of knowing that you’ve got a workforce going there again? Pauline Hansen says she doesn’t want to be prime minister, but there were plenty there last night who thought she should be.

>> She said the high point of the night was a phone call as she drove to the table and it was from my father and he was holding back some tears which I could pick up in his voice and he just said, “Congratulations, darling. We wish you all the best.” He said, “I’m proud.” >> And finally, the feeling seems to be tonight Labor by perhaps a whisker.

Is that how you read it? With you holding a a good handful of seats. >> Very, very hard to say what’s going to happen. And I think Queensland, if not the rest of Australia, is going to get one big shock. >> A shock that’s going to ripple through to Canberra in the end. >> Yes. It’s taken just two consecutive Saturdays for Pauline Hansen to rise again from the political ashes in Western Australia and last night in Queensland.

Pauline Hansen’s One Nation party wre havoc on conservative politics in Australia. She swept across the country feeding off voter disenchantment with everything from the GST and petrol prices to speed cameras and boat people. This week, we hitched up with the Hansen Crusade and found a more confident, polished politician who’s mastered a devastating political tactic.

No one can deny that Pauline Hansen is back with a vengeance. >> Two hands up if you can, Pauline. Two hands up. >> Pauline Hansen dominated the Brisbane tally room last night, witnessing the decimation of the coalition parties in Queensland. I will also be leaving politics and I will be leaving politics forth with. >> Twice in two weeks she’s proven herself the slayer of conservative politicians.

>> I’m not there to keep the bastards honest. I’m there to get rid of the bastards. >> I’m here to get rid of the bastards. In a different door was born. This past week, One Nation supporters have been filling halls in the urban fringes and small towns of Southeast Queensland, cheering the return of Pauline Hansen. marching, calling.

We’re so glad that you’re here on the wall as she is falling. It’s an incredible reemergence for the woman who only four weeks ago was dismissed as a political has been. >> There was a point though where you gave up, wasn’t there? >> Felt disillusioned. >> Well, you you threw in the towel, didn’t throw in the towel just for a minute or two.

>> I felt terribly disillusioned. Yes. Of actually wanting to um to walk away from the whole lot. >> What brought you to that point? >> Probably sheer frustration with everything like everyone and um my supporters then rallied around and I’ I’ve said, “Okay, so you keep going.” >> She says what I think and the majority of my neighbors are the same.

that they think that she walks on water. >> What Pauline Hansen does well is campaigning simple messages, seductive ideas for supporters baffled and angry about an increasingly complex world. >> She’s right in what she says. We don’t get a fair go. >> You should be able to defend yourself in your own home with a firearm.

>> And that’s what Pauline is saying there. So, uh, we support that. And so you would you shoot an intruder into your home? >> Yes, if we had to. For sure. >> Unless we make the punishment fit the crime, we’re going to get more and more prisoners because when they go to prison, they go into a motel unit and they’re given comfort and food and all the necessary comforts of civilization.

What should happen to them in jars? >> Well, I reckon uh in overseas countries, they give them the lash. >> Tough on criminals, tough on illegal immigrants. Pauline Hansen knows the right buttons to push. >> And I’ve been asked, “What’s your view about the the boat people?” Well, I said, “You go out, you meet them, you fill them up with fuel, you fill them up with food, you give them medical supplies, and you say, “Go that way.

” >> You send them off. >> Yes. These people are paying fishing v boats from Indonesia for their passage out here. These people are not fearing for their lives. These people are queue jumpers. These people are tourists searching for wherever they wish to go to at the taxpayers expense of Australia.

So these people have no right here. >> Tourists, women and children from Iraq. Would you send them back to Saddam Hussein? >> These people are not and should have no right in this country. But this is the people we’re talking about. Women and children who are fleeing Iraq. Would you turn them around and send them back to Saddam Hussein? >> Yes.

>> We’ve had a lot of problems in the past with Pauline just picking up something in dinner conversation prior to a a public speaking engagement following the dinner and then she would get up and sprout something which was inconceivably ridiculous uh because it just sort of went into her head during dinner.

>> David Oldfield should know until he was expelled by Mrs. Hansen. Oldfield was her closest adviser, a director of the party, but like many who have worked with her, he’s now turned against her. Very little little of it would be something she’s really thought up herself. Uh, you know, a lot of it would be just ideas if you like that are not terribly sustainable when it comes to I mean like the idea of turning people around.

I mean, I can understand how you’d like to do that turning around the boat people. Uh, but the idea that you’re going to give them food and medical supplies, I mean, what are you going to give them a St. ‘s ambulance first aid kit or something. I mean, it’s just it’s just not real. >> From a plumber’s wife’s background to having four kids to rounding fish and chip shop, >> that’s what I am.

>> She says she’s still not a polished politician, but she can hold the crowd spells. Here we have Goth Whitlam, right, who’s costing us more now than what he did when he was prime minister. And he’s a total reject. >> Reviews strike just the right cord from the perks of former politicians. >> And I would cut the former prime minister’s golf at the knees and they would get one red out of >> the unfairness of speed cameras which have become unfair revenue collection.

She is Paulie Nancy. >> Now, at the moment, our national road toll is a catastrophe, but you got a big round of applause back there when you said get rid of the speed cameras so that when you’re speeding in your car, you won’t get a big dirty fine. >> I didn’t say get rid of them. You got prioritize.

Prioritize it with speed cameras. >> You said reduce the number of speed cameras. >> Exactly. Reduce, not get rid of. >> What’s the problem with speed cameras? You ask the Australian people out there, it’s a revenue raiser and you want to have a listen to a lot of Australians out there how they feel about it. >> It’s a quick round of applause for you.

It’s irresponsible. But >> no, it’s not irresponsible. Actually, we have a policy of compulsory defensive driving course for firsttime license holders. >> If you don’t speed, you won’t get caught by the speed camera. But Pauline Hansen stands for less speeding fines. I mean, how can you stand up for that? How can you? You’re you’re not interested in listening to what policy.

You’re not interested in listening to to the people of Australia, are you? >> If you don’t speed, there’ll be no revenue to raise. And if you don’t speed, less Australians will die on the roads. That’s what they tell us. I mean this quite sincerely. >> You actually bring in a compulsory defensive driving course so people know how to drive on our roads and you teach them from the beginning, our youth, and you teach them how to handle a car.

It doesn’t matter how many speed cameras there are out there. >> Specifically set up speed cameras specifically as revenue raises ripping off of the Australian people out there. >> Some of the things that Pauline has been credited as saying over the years that have not made terribly much sense or been easily torn apart.

They’re usually things that have been popped in her head by somebody she’s spoken to 15 minutes beforehand. You got a good response earlier about lowering the educational requirements uh for entry into the police force. >> Yes. >> Now the rest of the world is accepting at this point in time that in fact we need to have smarter police to deal with increasingly sophisticated criminals.

Why would you do the opposite? because you give everyone the opportunity to be able to join the police force. By putting too high a standards of education on some people, we are keeping good people out of the police force who would make very good street wise police officers. >> So dumber cops. Uh that is a very denigrating remark especially if you have a back look back over the years of people who have actually joined the police force over the years who didn’t have their university degrees and have made fantastic policemen and police women in

this country. >> But if the standard’s here now and you want to reduce the standard Pauline Hansen’s for dumb >> is a complete put down to the Australian people. That’s an insult. It really is. Whether it’s populist ideas or common sense policies or trying to get a fair go for all Australians or Queenslanders, I’ll continue to fight for it.

And I’ve seen the change in our governments who are now bending at the knees because they realize that if they don’t start listening to the Australian people, they won’t be there. >> She’s usually best when she’s a combination of of angry with what’s going on but happy about her success. If you combine those two things, uh, then she’s usually able to come across quite confidently, but as soon as things sort of start to go wrong, um, you know, she’s likely to be a quivering wreck who’s just going to make mistake after

mistake. >> I think she thought she was the answer to everything. And, uh, she was the, um, dare I say, the sole reason for for everyone else living. >> You know, Bill Felin. >> Yes, of course I do. >> You’ll need the headphones, too. Her biggest failure came after her greatest triumph.

Bill Feldman was one of 11 One Nation MPs elected at the last Queensland election. >> The going got a bit tough and they got going. That’s all I have to say. >> But within months, the party was dregistered. The fraud squad was investigating and Feldman and his colleagues had deserted Pauline Hansen, her party and her leadership style. >> It’s my way or no way.

And that is the sign of a dictator. The structure of the party was autocratic. That brought about its dregistration in this state. And when the party was dregistered up here, we were left absolutely floundering. >> What was Paul Hansen’s response to your dilemma? >> Basically, it’ll be all right. Don’t worry about it.

>> Get out there and start listening. Even those who say she can’t manage One Nation say she’s hit on a lethal way of targeting the other political parties. It’s a devastating tactic. In Western Australia, she directed One Nation preferences against sitting members who put her at the bottom of their ticket.

>> But on those percentages, well then I would pick up a seat in the Senate. >> It’s vindictive but brilliant and causes political havoc. Pauline Hansen’s come back with a ripper with this put the sitting member last and she’s doing it for self-s survival. She said if they’re going out to get me I’m going down with all guns blazing. Great line.

Great line. >> Why is it that Miss Hansen sacked you? >> Oh look, I’ll be talking about that later. >> Pauline Hansen once sacked John Pascarelli. >> Have you made threats? >> Why was her at all, Mr. Pascarelli? >> Well, I mean I’m saying it’s it’s bizarre and it’s also very sad. Now her former adviser is back in the inner circle applauding vengeance as a political tactic.

>> Pauline Hansen has suddenly decided that she’s going to change the way politics are played in Australia. Now the big boys are going to have to cop it. Put the sitting member last. It’s diabolical. >> Well, Pauline’s preference policy of course is uh related to putting the sitting member last regardless of that person’s political persuasion or philosophical background.

And that of course, you know, creates what is essentially electoral anarchy. >> You’ve described it as the politics of vengeance. >> It is. Yeah, it is. It is has a great basis in revenge. That’s what it is. And I mean Pauline is very comfortable uh in a state of anger. >> Your policies, your preferences, policies are based on revenge.

You don’t care sane, insane, corrupt, honest, whether they agree with your policies or not. You say, “Unless you preference me, I won’t preference you.” Now, where’s the morality in that? When you will you tell me how you do it when you’ve got all the sitting part all the major parties and everyone preference you last will you tell me you tell me how you do it >> you do it on your principles you decide what your principles are >> I think I better stick with the political side of this instead of um and not you as far as strategy and how to

make sure that your party is still around in the long run to actually you can get a foot in the door >> why don’t you go through and decide whose policies you prefer isn’t that your responsibility >> it is Now, well and truly, time to cut this interview because I have got a speaking engagement to go to tonight.

>> Mrs. Hansen, the bottom line here is you do what’s best for Pauline Hansen, not what’s best for Australia. >> Cheers. >> But if Pauline Hansen won’t call a spade a spade, her adviser, John Pascarelli, will call it a bloody shovel. >> They’ve got to come around and listen one day. And then Mr.

Beas is going to have if he becomes the next prime minister, he will owe it to Pauline Hansen. She will make sure that he never forgets it. He’ll have nightmares every night. I think that’s good. Keep him on his toes. And they’re going to have to come and deal with Pauline Hansen. >> And if Canra has been slow to hear that message from the West, it’s come in loud and clear from Queensland.

Pauline Hansen and a most remarkable interview, her first graphic, emotional account of three humiliating months in jail, and her future life in and out of politics. She says the prison experience has changed her, and it was certainly a different Pauline Hansen I met on the Gold Coast yesterday.

Somewhat softer, still bitter, but definitely unbroken. I guess you don’t realize until you lose it how much freedom means to you. >> It’s It’s funny you say that that that’s really what it was all about. >> Pauline Hansen walked out of Brisbane Women’s Prison on Thursday, not only a free woman, but cleared of those devastating fraud charges, still deeply affected by the time she spent behind bars.

to be dragged off. And what happened was when I was taken away from the courts and I was taken downstairs and I went through the process of being strip searched and I was actually um handcuffed, shoes taken off while I sat in the cell downstairs. And then you’ve got um you got the bars and other prisoners were in the cells and David was in one and then to use the L.

So you’ve got this concrete wall that’s halfway up. So you you you go to the toilet, they can’t see you, but they know exactly that what you’re doing. You your dignity is stripped. Just it it was just absolutely um so degrading, demeaning. When they gave me that number to stand in front holding this number here to have my photo taken, I felt like an absolute as if I was an absolute criminal.

>> Well, you were a criminal in the eyes of the world, weren’t you? >> Not not in my mind. Not in my mind. >> Do you remember what that number is? >> Yep. C79 prisoner C79. >> Why does remembering that night make you cry? >> Because probably because um my family didn’t know what was happening to me. I think it’s just I feel as if I’m relieving it.

I don’t want to get emotionally upset with us. >> You say you didn’t sleep at all that night. Were you on suicide watch? >> Yes. I had no I had no regard for my for my life and my wellbeing. And I think that’s what I was terrible. I’m sorry. What’s terrible? >> What’s terrible? >> Well, even that, you know, for my kids here, I am always trying to to, you know, keep their spirit summon.

I’ve always tried to be positive person. I tell the kids, you’ve always got to be positive and everything like that. And it was probably very very weak of me at the time to to feel that way, but that’s how I felt. um to actually um think that way. And I think it was wrong of me because my children only had me.

And I think it was very selfish for me to do that. But and I can think that way now, but when you actually go through it and you experience it and it it just felt like the end of my world. >> Pauline’s world wasn’t the only one shattered. Her children, Steven, Tony, Lee, and Adam, also struggled to cope. What was the hardest part for you? >> Mentally, emotionally, I just found it really hard to maintain a balance.

The only thing I thought about was getting mom out of there. It hit me just like a like a safe channel, like a I just I didn’t expect it. >> Pauline also gave up any physical contact with the family after refusing to undergo strip searches. I mean, we couldn’t have that contact with mom that we needed. >> Can you tell me what a strip search is like? What do they do? >> Strip search is that you you’re put into cubicle after you’ve had a contact visit.

That means if you’re um up front and you haven’t got this perspect your outside clothing, your shirt and your pants, then you’ve got to take off your bra. And then they’ll each item they will check um and fill your item and fill your bra. Then you can put your bra back on. Then you take your pants off and they will check your pants. I’ve actually heard from one of the prisoners there that a girl had to take her tampon out and actually had to show them there was nothing in that.

You then turn around and you have to bend. There’s no touching at all. Um I was actually asked to squat although squat and say cough. Um lift up your feet. Um run your hands through the hair your hair. Pull your ears forward. So the check put your head down. Check behind the ears. Open up your mouth. Some of the women too will be asked to actually lift up their breasts.

So then check underneath their breasts. So, I’m not the only one that wouldn’t go through a strip search. >> So, you just found it too humiliating, too degrading to continue. >> Would you like to go through it? >> No, I certainly wouldn’t like to go through it. And so, that was the reason why you decided to stop the contact visits with your family.

>> Yeah. >> That decision meant Pauline could no longer hug her children or her ailing 84year-old father, Jack. It’s all behind us now. >> Yes. >> Do you feel like you’ve changed? >> I think I’ve I’ve a lot wiser for the experience. I’ve um very much more appreciative of it. I’ve um know how important family and friends are.

I am so so blessed and humbled by the public support that I have received. And what’s more important about that terror is that people never gave up believing in me. They trusted me. And how many politicians can say that from the public jail is meant to harden people. It sounds like it might have softened you. >> It softened me in in a lot of my attitudes towards it. It really has.

Do you remember what you said about jail in the past? >> You know, I told you I actually went to um look through the prisons as as a um member of parliament. How superficial that was. >> Do you think differently now about mandatory sentencing and and and sending people away to jail? >> Yes, I I have.

I’ve totally different when you make your comments and you’re on one side, but when you’re on the other side of those bars and you’re on the rules and regulations and guidelines of what it’s all about and your rights and and really you’ve got to um you really got to get sort of harp and fight for your rights and what you what you sort of want done.

>> But I mean but but these people are convicted of crimes. I mean, should they have any rights? >> Hey, hang on a minute. Don’t tar everyone with the same brush. As I said, >> and that’s what you used to do. >> I should not have been there. >> Correct. And Tara, I’m first one to admit when I’m wrong. I didn’t.

I had this attitude. Well, that’s prison. The systems found them guilty, so they must be guilty. Hey, I’ve had a system fail me, right? I’ve been there. I just wonder how it would shape your policies in future if you ever got back into politics >> based on my life’s experiences. You can only >> but how how your policies may be different now after spending time in jail.

Would they be any different? Do you think >> I’d think I’d have a different opinion? Yes, I would. >> So why don’t you do anything about it? Why don’t you >> get back into politics and and do something about it? Um, Tara, I’ve um it’s it’s been oh cra I’m even losing track 7 years 7 and 1/2 years of vilificationounding um you know just about nearly I could have been financially ruined just everything the stress the strain on my family to find myself you know in prison and You’re saying, “Why don’t I go back into it?” >> So, are you ruling Are you ruling it out

or are you thinking of coming back on your own terms? >> I’m not even Tara, let me make it quite clear. I am not thinking about it. I’m taking a day at a time. I’m going to um spend this time with my family. I’m going to have a good look at Pauline Hansen. I’m asking now, what do I want? You see, I don’t owe anyone anything.

>> Pauline says dirty politics put her in prison. Amongst others, she blames federal health minister Tony Abbott for her downfall. Why do you think the case was brought against you? >> Tony Abbott said he said he set up the slush fund. He said we had to stop One Nation. >> You don’t like this man. Heaven helped this country if Tony Abbott is ever in control of it.

I detest the man. >> So this was all about a political conspiracy. >> A political po ploy. It definitely was a witch hunt. You see that it was all designed to financially break the party, break my spirit. The DPP said today it acted dispassionately and objectively on the evidence. Are you saying that the court was in fact motivated by politics? >> What I’m saying is I think there is um there was an agenda here against me.

>> Why would the DPP be politically motivated to get you? >> Maybe you should ask them. >> But do you have an opinion on that? No, I don’t. I don’t. >> Would now not be the best time for you to get back into politics to capitalize on the public support you’ve had? This almost obligation I guess some people must feel to vote for you now.

>> Tara, do you know um if I was to get back into parliament, I’d hope to God it wasn’t on a sympathy vote. I don’t want anyone’s sympathy. I want people to look at me and say, “She’s the best person for the job. She’s the one who’s actually going to fight for us and she’s the one that we believe in enough to get in there and represent us.

>> The incredible rise and fall and rise again of Pauline Hansen. From fish munger to politician to pariah and now perhaps even martr. Ever since she emerged from Ipsswitch, Pauline’s made a career of crusading for the underdog. Now she says that crusade is personal. Surely they owe me an answer as well. You know, they’ve destroyed my life.

They’ve destroyed my my career, my future, you know. Um my family have been absolutely devastated. My children, what it’s done to them. It’s just they they will never know. >> And I’m supposed to just forget about this. >> Has it has it destroyed you? Is that how you’re feeling today? I would like some answers as well.

Why should anyone have it done to them? And you just so say, “Okay, it’s okay. Move on.” It’s it’s just not it’s just not the issue about Pauline Hansen. It’s the issue about what is fair, what is right, what is just. It may be Pauline Hansen today, but who is it tomorrow? Do you know what I’m saying? If you think Pauline Hansen is the most provocative politician we’ve ever had, then she’s also got to be the most persistent and one of the most resolute.

It’s two decades since she first took on CRA. Back then, Pauline lasted only two years in parliament, but it was enough to forever cement her name and her controversial views in our nation’s psyche. Now, she’s back as a senator for at least six more years. So, has Pauline Hansen changed at all? You decide. >> It’s nearly 18 years to the day when I last left this place.

I mean, they kept calling me a serial candidate, wanting to be back in here. >> Pauline Hansen has spent nearly two decades and nine failed state and federal elections trying to claw her way back. And now that she’s here, it’s a little overwhelming. >> You’re a bit emotional. >> I am. Yeah, >> I can feel it. >> Is it Is it because um you’ve been given that second chance? >> Oh, >> yeah.

>> Yeah. And uh feeling honored or feeling >> Yep. >> Or is it just it was it’s the thing you wanted so much? You know, it’s it’s it’s changed my whole life. >> Australia lives in that building, doesn’t it? It’s the Senator Hansen will be spending a lot of time here in Canberra over the next 6 years. >> Come on in, Liz. This is it.

>> Oh, this is pretty impressive, actually. Look at that. >> This is her Parliament House office. >> This is your homework. >> Yep. All my homework. >> And already there’s a lot to do. I reckon you should take us a little sit in your chair. >> It’s um Yeah. You know what? Feels good. I know I was meant to be here.

>> What will success represent for you? >> I think for the pure fact that I was voted in. You know, to me that is su that is success. What would you consider failure then after six years >> if they didn’t want to vote me in at the next election? >> Pardon? >> Since Pauline Hansen arrived on the political scene back in 1996.

It’s been a pretty rough ride. >> I believe we are in danger of being swamped by Asians. >> It started with her maiden speech. I should have the right to have a say in who comes into my country >> and never stopped. >> I do not want Australia to become Asianized. Do you want race rights, religious fanaticism, gang and drug wars, >> although some of her suggestions prove to be not too far off the mark.

>> I’ve been asked, “What’s your view about the boat people?” I said, “You go out, you meet them, you fill them up with fuel, you fill them up with food, you give them medical supplies, and you say, “Go that way.” >> That’s the biggest laugh in Switch. Everyone hates you. >> Pauline Hansen was polarizing >> and Australia had never seen anything like it.

>> We will lose our country forever. and be strangers in our own land. >> I don’t go out there just to, you know, set the world on fire. That’s not the case. But I think there are sometimes you’ve lit quite a bushfire. I I get what you’re saying, but I don’t intentionally do that, Liz. It’s just the way that it comes it comes out sometimes when people shock horror.

Have there been time have there been times that you’ve regretted something you’ve said? >> Well, I suppose if I hadn’t have said swamped by Asians in my maiden speech, um it might have been different because it wasn’t it wasn’t meant to offend the Asians that are here or people have come here for a new way of life.

>> Pauline Hansen is now 62. Home for the past 25 years is a farm just outside of Ipsswitch in southeast Queensland. >> Great to see you. This is your paradise. >> Yeah. >> Hers is a quintessential Australian backyard. >> You have a trick that makes her feel very happy. >> That’s what I do.

So, and I find that that sort of tells you is there see lemon’s gone everywhere. >> You know what? You’ve always been shaking the tree. I I like to teach you how to make lemon butter. >> I was hoping for a genetonic, but >> it’s beautiful spot. I love the country. I’m not a city girl. When I’m out in the public, it’s very full on for me because I’m so recognizable and um never changing the color of your hair.

>> They talk about me less if I ever did that. She was born Pauline Seekum, one of seven children in a household where her late mom Nora had some old school views. >> I was always taught the yellow race will rule the world and if we don’t do something now until we catch up a little bit, I’m afraid.

Yes, the yellow race will rule the world. >> And Pauline barely had time to dream. What did you think you would do in life? >> I had no idea. my childhood went that quick and I was married at 16, had my first child at 17. So I always thought I would have liked to have been a police officer and uh but that wasn’t the case because >> I read about modeling.

>> I was I I always thought about that as well. >> What are you going to have? Can I have two pieces of mullet? >> Instead, Pauline worked her own fish and chip shop. >> You got a steak sandwich and old perch and chips to go on. a twice divorced single mother of four children who would go on to cut her political teeth as a local counselor.

Is that where you got your confidence to to stand up in public life? >> Confidence. It’s been very hard for me, Liz. And you you might find this after me to say I was quite one of the family. >> Yep. I find that hard. >> We laugh about this. you know. >> So you so you didn’t have confidence? >> No.

To actually get into politics and to do that. I’ve really had to push myself to be the voice. It doesn’t it it’s never come to me easily. >> Mr. Acting Speaker, when I stood on that floor of parliament to deliver my maiden speech, my knees were shaking. I was so nervous. And you look back at the footage and you can see it. And I suppose I’ve always thought this is who I am. this is what you get.

And people say, “Can you say it differently?” >> But you But do you understand what people are wanting you to do? >> I’m I’m trying to get them. If Even my kids say to me, “Mom, we understand what you’re saying, but can you say it a little bit differently? Stop wasting water. You’re on tank water now.” >> Pauline’s children are strong supporters of their mother.

>> Careful. I’m on tank water. I don’t want to waste it. >> Although daughter Lee says her mother’s political ambitions have provided them with plenty of comical material. When your mom said, “I’m going to stand for election,” did you think, “Oh, no.” Or, “Which election are we talking about?” >> You’re right.

Your mom’s never actually stopped, has she? >> No. No. We have a joke in our family where every time mom said to us, you know, I’m going to run again, we call her Johnny Farum. Um cuz every time she says, “Nope, this is the last time. No more.” What has it been like? Because I don’t think a lot of people understand that children are affected when their parents go into politics.

>> Um look, it’s been challenging over the years. I mean, at one stage I had a death rate against myself, so that was bizarre. I was 13 I think at the time. So I had no gravity of the situation whatsoever. >> But of all the challenges the family has faced, by far the greatest was when Pauline was sentenced to 3 years jail for electoral fraud.

After the guilty verdict was handed down, Hansen remained defiant, declaring her innocence and later saying rubbish. This is a joke. >> It is a shock, but she’s doing well. She’s a strong woman. Pauline’s imprisonment was met with outrage. >> It’s a disgrace that we have a political prisoner in Australia >> and 3 months later her conviction was overturned.

I saw mom came came out of prison as someone who was emotionally ripped apart. Someone who was always so strong and emotionally stable to see a skeleton of the person she used to be. um emotionally. It took her years to be able to move past that. >> Pauline believed her imprisonment was political and cited Tony Abbott for helping fund the legal case against her.

>> I thought it was in Australia’s national interest that the Pauline Hansen political juggernaut be stopped. >> Heaven helped this country if Tony Abbott is ever in control of it. >> I detest the man. Tony Abbott, have you thought about what you’re going to say to him? You’ll run into him. >> Um, no problems about that.

Tony has all has already offered to have a cup of coffee with me. >> Has he? >> Yes. >> Isn’t he know that? Did you? >> No. >> And I said, “Love to.” >> Did you? >> Yes, I did. >> Why? >> Liz, you >> This is a man you detested. >> Liz, you you can’t live on um hate. Um, don’t forget I’m like a bloody old elephant and I don’t forget.

But the whole fact is he has a job to do. I have a job to do. I’m not a vindictive person. I’m there to do work for the people. >> So you’ve forgiven him. >> I said I’m like a bloody old elephant. >> How are you? >> Hello Jack. >> Everyone wants a piece of Pauling. >> People have had a gut full. Thank you. >> Her One Nation party holds four seats in the Senate, making her more powerful than ever.

And even the prime minister, who said this before the election, >> Pauline Hansen is, as far as we are concerned, uh not a welcome presence on the Australian political scene, >> seems to have changed his tune, and today he’s asked to meet with Pauline. They must though know that I’m going to be a person in the Senate that they’ll have to deal with >> and an hour later.

>> Well, how did that go? >> Very good. Very very um pleased with it. Um he was very gracious and spoke to me about Well, I did most of the talking. So, did he apologize? No. And I didn’t ask for one either. >> Does that mean you like him? >> I do. I like him. >> Yeah. >> Um I respect him. >> It’s a dream come true.

>> Pauline Hansen has long wanted to be heard and now with her voting block of senators, she has the opportunity to influence major policy and decisionm. If you had one message for the people of Australia now that you are in Parliament, what would it be? Oh, I don’t I don’t I don’t know what I’d actually the message that I’d say to them.

I don’t know. Liz, it’s >> Is there one promise you can make? Is there one thing that you know you can guarantee? >> What I would say to the Australian people is that I will always try to be upfront, honest, and accountable to them. >> Well guys, Parliament House, Senate side, congratulations. >> Her senators are mostly political noviceses. We are united as a team.

I don’t want the perception out there that it’s going to fall apart apart like Clive Palmer did. >> Malcolm Roberts is a climate change denier. Brian Buren was once sacked from One Nation and Rod Cullton whose future as a senator is already under a cloud. >> You’ve got a a a team of quite strident personalities.

You’re confident. You’ve got the discipline and the unity that everybody’s on board. >> Most definitely. And I am a people’s representative. And my senators are also a people’s representative. First and foremost, loyalty is basically to the people, not Pauline Hansen. I’m not tying them up. I’m not saying, “Hey, I’m I’m the boss here. I’m the leader guys here.

You’ve got to do what I’m saying.” I’m not. But you do have to have a leader and you are the boss. >> I tell you what, Liz, when the decisions have to be made, I will make them. There’s no doubt about that whatsoever. This means too much to me. And I’ve hung on for the last 18 years since I last walked out of that place.

So, at the end of the day, if a decision has to be made, I’ll make it. Her voters have high expectations. They’re people who are disenchanted with the major parties and who believe she is their voice. >> Pauline’s gaining more traction because she gets out there and says what the majority of the people are thinking. >> I’m Pauline.

>> My mom’s a big fan of it. >> And Pauline is attentive to her supporters. >> She’s going to stand up to people like Turnbull. Turnull hasn’t got any balls. If you’re smart, put that in. >> Including the workers at her local Meals on Wheels. >> Prime Minister about this one. >> She’s clearly loved by many. >> Well, you’ve got Pauline now.

>> Yes, we’ve got Pauline now. >> We love you better. >> But she’s also occasionally loathed. >> You’re just a racist redneck with your red hair. Go. Go away. Go back to hipsw switch in your fish and chip shop. Disgraceful. You’re a woman lacking moral fiber. YOU ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST AND YOU’RE NOT WELCOME HERE.

>> Some of your enemies have been very vocal. How do you feel when you’re called a virus, an opportunist, a halfwit, part of the ugly underbelly of Australia? >> Oh dear. It’s like water off a duck’s back. >> Doesn’t penetrate? >> No. >> Doesn’t hurt. >> No. No. >> Doesn’t mean anything. >> No. Why should it? Because you know what? In here, it’s because I know I’m not going out there to personally hurt anyone.

Never have done. Never ever have I done that. >> She is critical of herself a lot of the time, but I’ve always said to her, that’s your brand. And if people haven’t leared to accept that now after 20 years, they never will. James Ashby is Pauline’s new minder. He previously worked for federal MP Peter Slipper, creating headlines when he accused the former speaker of the house of sexual harassment.

James, what are you doing in the world of politics again? >> I don’t know. met this little red head and she was running for the state campaign 18 months ago and I just saw she didn’t have the support and I thought well bugger it I’ll support her and you know for for somebody who’s supposedly anti-gay we work very well together >> and you as you walked into parliament today how did you feel >> it was an odd feeling actually I wasn’t comfortable at But Ashb has agreed to be Pauline’s chief of staff.

>> A lot of these politicians can’t even get to these remote areas. >> So this is the only way to get out and visit people. >> After helping her campaign as her pilot, >> this is like your own TV show. Are you ready? >> And with social media. >> We are live in 2 seconds. >> Hello everyone.

The best thing that we have in our corner this time is social media. >> Well, I’m in Ingam today. >> Sorry, a little more enthusiasm. >> [ __ ] this. >> Well, I’m in Eng. >> She’s now the second most followed politician in this country behind the prime minister. That is a big platform. That is something that the opposition leader would kill for.

It’s been brought to my attention that the Australian Taxation Office are going to put in squat toilets because over 20% of their staff is from a non-English-speaking background. Squat toilets, right? You got to squat to use them. >> Are you xenophobic? Please explain. >> When 60 Minutes asks if you were xenophobic. >> That changed my life.

>> That changed your life. >> Do you think you might have been? No, >> not at all. >> No. >> Which is xenophobia is different to racism. >> Of course it is. It’s it’s a fear of anything foreign. I’m not fear of um foreigners. That’s that’s stupid to say, you know, fear of um foreigners or beliefs. >> Good. No, not a fear of that.

>> Well, this is about Muslims borrowing interestfree loans in Australia. >> But Pauline does have fears. Muslims >> and currently they’re about Muslims. >> There are those lurking close at hand who wish to destroy all that is Australian and our freedom. >> When you say ban Muslim immigration, can you appreciate it sends out a a message of hate? It does start to divide the nation.

I’m trying to be protective, Liz, that let’s deal with what we have here at the moment. I don’t want to see another Australian lose their life or a loved one lose their life because of this. >> But do you think it’s going to fix the problem? >> Liz, I haven’t got a crystal ball. But that’s that’s the reason I’m saying do you think that is that really >> what I’d like to see is these >> these Muslims that are not the radicals the ones that want to live their life in peace and harmony and quite happy to be here in Australia and and love and

embrace this nation then work with me to find the answers. >> You’ve been reading the Quran? >> I have read sections of the Quran. Yes. >> You carry it in your handbag, I’m told. Yes. >> And why do you do that? because I want to use it as a reference and to read it so I have better understanding what I’m talking about instead of just you know going out and saying things unless you have an understanding.

>> Being informed is everything. >> Yeah. >> And if in the process of being informed you found yourself realizing that maybe you had the wrong stance will you say so? >> Of course. you know, I’ve uh if people can, you know, prove to me that I haven’t been right in my my views, my opinions, um by all means, I’m I’m quite open-minded with a lot of things.

>> So, you could be swayed about the statements you have made so far. >> Of course, Liz, you know, um to think that we’re right 100% of the time, that’s being naive and in being um stupid about things, >> right? So, let’s clear the air. Do you hate Muslims? >> No, I don’t hate I don’t hate Asians. I don’t hate Muslims.

I don’t, you know, hate >> indigenous people. Are they still getting an unfair run? They’re getting one up on us. >> I’ll tell you something. You know who they’re coming to see? Me. Spend time with Pauline Hansen and you get to see the light and shade as she writes her much anticipated first speech to the Senate.

There’s a softness we haven’t really seen before. There’s a lot I want to say, but what I’ve got to try and do is people need hope. And if you’ve got hope, then you can actually say, give them that that confidence to say, at least someone’s there thinking about us, that’s what you’ll tell them. Yeah, >> but mostly she’s feisty. >> I hope they just give me a fair go.

Australians will have to wait and see which Pauline they get. >> Judge me on my performance and my achievements. I’m not perfect. I’ve never claimed to be perfect. But if anyone wants to criticize me, then at the next election, put your name forward. You have every right to stand for parliament.

And I’d like to see what sort of job you do. Last week started out so well for Pauline Hansen. On Monday, she became a grandmother for the fifth time when her daughter Lee gave birth to a son, Nate. But last night, her expectation of more good news was dashed in the Queensland election. Even though the precise makeup of the Sunshine State’s new parliament won’t be known for days, it’s fair to say the One Nation Party has suffered a disappointing result.

Earlier today, Liz Hayes caught up with Pauline Hansen to discuss where to from here. Pauline Hansen, when you went to bed last night, you must have been deeply disappointed that none of your 61 candidates won a seat. No, I disagree with that comment. What I’m hearing back from some of my people is there’s about 10 seats that we possibly have got a chance of picking up.

So, the counting’s not over till the last vote is counted. One Nation has done exceptionally well and I really like to thank all the people of Queensland who cast a vote for One Nation. But the expectations were high even by you and by your party members. The expectation was that at least 10 to 15 seats. Now, that’s not going to happen, is it? >> No.

No one predicted the the number of seats. >> James Ashby did. He said between 10 and 15 seats. >> Yeah. >> Even you said you expected maybe more than 11. >> Yeah. No, no, no. I didn’t I didn’t put a number on it. What I said was the feeling was stronger than what it was in 1998. And if you have a look at the seats and the percentage of the vote that we got, we’ve done extremely well.

>> Pauline, if you don’t win any seats, you will have failed. >> But you will have. I mean, that’s fact. >> No, it’s not a fact. >> If you don’t win any seats, you have >> not at all. Not at all. And uh definitely not a failure to get over 22% of the vote in in Queensland. Let’s let’s see how that uh how that finishes up in the wash.

But it doesn’t get you seats. I know that the percentages both the major political parties will be actually shaking in their boots. Well, I say this to you because you say that this was going to send shock waves across Australia and it was going to change the political landscape. >> And I do agree with that. >> Yes. Yes, I do. >> Even if you don’t win any >> Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

>> So, you still believe that you have this ground swell of support even if you don’t win any seats? >> Yes, I do. Because that’s evidence in the percentage of the vote that we’ve actually got and uh people are fed up with the majors and they’re looking for change. Surely you would have to concede that one of the things that’s worked against One Nation is its appearance.

The perception that One Nation too is chaotic. >> No, you’ve lost. >> No. Rubbish. It’s not chaos. When we are actually polling the second highest vote in these seats, we’ve done extremely well. >> Pauline, this is your state. You’re the queen of Queensland. >> Oh, I don’t know about that. >> But surely you are bruised to a degree.

It it at this point hasn’t lived up to expectations and at this point we thought it would. Liz, you know, it’s not over till the fat lady sings. Until we count the last vote, we actually are in chance of winning this. Anastasia hasn’t got a 47 seats. Either has the LMP. So the whole fact is it may come down to if we win two or three seats or even one seat, whatever.

That may come down to our seat to actually decide who is going to govern. What message do you think this election sends to Malcolm Turnull? >> Um, they’ll be very concerned about Queensland because they know that they need to get Queensland in the LMP seats to actually govern their own right. >> What do you think it says to him about his leadership? >> I look, people are not happy with Malcolm Turbo.

That’s been for a long time. They just feel that he’s not decisive. He’s not a leader. I think they’ve got real problems. I think but the other problems are with thei citizenship debacle that’s happening in federal parliament that um I don’t know how they’re going to deal with this uh how it’s going to pan out but they if they’re going to have a leadership challenge it has to be very very soon and I believe it should happen this side of Christmas and there should be another election I believe with citizenship throw everyone out of parliament and

actually have a double dissolution and start again have you checked your citizen enship situation? >> Yes. >> And are you clear? >> I’m fine. We’ve actually I know I am because my parents were born here in Australia, but we have written to the home office. So, I’m waiting for that confirmation back >> because you have English grandparents.

>> Yes. Yes. But you can’t uh you can’t get British citizenship through your um grandparents anymore. >> So, you’re clear. >> It has to be immediately. It has to be immediate um um parents. So, yes. Look, I’ve got no doubt about it whatsoever. Um, but I’ I’ve have to produce those paperwork and by the 1st of December and I will do that.

>> Just getting back to One Nation and Queensland. Um, win or lose, do you take responsibility >> for what? >> For no seats. >> You keep saying that. >> But do you It is Pauline Hansen One Nation Party. >> It is. So, do you take responsibility for whatever the outcome is, good or bad, >> Liz? We have done extremely well in responsibility for that.

Then, >> we’ve done extremely well. It was a team effort. No, you know, no. >> So, what I’m saying to you, everybody thinks about One Nation as Pauline Hansen. You accept that. >> People look at you and they and they see One Nation is Pauline Hansen. So, if you win those seats, it’s your win. >> But if you don’t win any seats, is that you who lost? Liz, for what we have achieved in such a short period of time, it it is a it’s a positive.

I’m not going to see a negative in it whatsoever. And you or anyone else is not going to badger me into it. If I’m wrong, I listen, I’m the first person that will admit that I’m wrong and I’ve done wrong. This is not a negative. It is a a very much a very big positive. And I’m tell you what, the major political parties will both be looking at the results in these seats now because they’ll be very concerned at the next federal election how well they are going to do if they can hold these seats in Queensland with this result.

>> So no seats is not a negative. >> No, it’s not. >> And it’s and >> it’s ideally love to win seats. Of course I would. I want to be in a position, but it’s not determined yet. We’ve still got another two weeks down the track to go. >> You’re not a fizzer. I’m not a no way in the wide world. Not a not a lot of bang.

>> I’ll tell you something. On the polling booth that I worked on yesterday, I had so much support from people coming up to me all day and stick with it and people saying, “Don’t you go away. You stick with it. Keep going.” I said, “I’m not going anywhere.” I love an optimistic Pauline Hansen. No matter what, you have not lost.

That is quite something. >> Never will. They’re two of the biggest personalities in Australian politics. Also two of the most controversial and polarizing. And now they’re a couple. Pauline Hansen and Mark Laam, Mr. and Mrs. One Nation. By becoming Pauline’s proxy in New South Wales, Laam is likely to win an upper house seat at the state election in a fortnight.

In return, Hansen gets to harness the former Labour opposition leaders undeniable campaigning skills, undoubtedly useful in the run-up to this year’s federal election. But will this political version of Married at First Sight last past the honeymoon? >> Pauline Mark watches Married at First Sight. You’d never heard. >> Everyone does. No, I don’t.

I’ve never >> worked very hard >> and that’s what we’re looking at. >> Liz, this is our commitment ceremony and we’re both in for the long haul. >> Hi. >> Yeah, thanks. >> Who would have thought it? >> Okay. Where do you want me, Pauline? You’re in the front. You’re driving. Okay, >> let’s get this straight. >> Going to throw my bag.

>> Has there ever been a political odd couple quite like Pauline Hansen and Mark Leam? >> How are you? >> Good. Lovely to meet you. Hello, Jordan. >> Hello. >> Stepping out as Mr. and Mrs. One Nation amidst the adoring crowds at Tamworth’s country music festival in New South Wales. Take me into your arms >> and loving it up for the local reason.

>> Here we go. >> Thank you. >> See, that’s team teamwork. >> They’re both ridden rough shot across the political landscape. Woo! Woohoo! >> They’ve each tried to buck the system. >> You’re kidding. >> And often the system has bucked them off. >> So perhaps it’s not surprising that the bruiser from New South Wales has saddled up with Queensland’s fiery red.

I can’t help her enough. >> Pauline says you’re a male version of her. Well, that’s that’s a nice thing to say. Everyone’s different, of course. >> In personality and character, dedication, um, won’t take a backward step, has an opinion, strongly opinionated. Yeah. >> Comfortable with that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely.

>> You know that the view is that you two cannot last. >> Well, you know what I find curious uh is the focus on us? I suppose there is because because we’re we’re outspoken. We we we try to tr speak the truth and we say things that the lefties in particular don’t like and and we cop all the outrage.

The others >> because they see us as a threat, Mark. That’s what it is. They see us as a threat and it’s all wishful thinking that they want to see us not work together and it will sort of finish. >> Hi Pauline. >> Hi Mark. >> Nice to meet you. >> Very nice to meet you. >> The first hint of a political relationship was 9 years ago.

I’ve always thought the role of the reporter was to ask the questions on the spot. >> Mark Laam signed up as a reporter for a 60-minute story in the 2010 federal election and interviewed Pauline. >> So, do you see Gillard as a backstabber? >> I don’t like her and I don’t trust her. >> And at the end of it, uh, she cheekily suggested I should be in One Nation.

Well, now I am and here we are. >> Well, I said to you, I said, “Mark, you sound like One Nation. Why don’t you come on board?” And of course at that time >> that was not on your mind. >> Well 60 Minutes never rang it again. I never got another assignment. So >> is it our fault? >> If a week’s a long time in politics try a couple of decades.

>> Back in the early 2000s Laam was the Labour party’s great hope. >> I want to put the rung of a good Medicare system back into the ladder of opportunity. And Pauline Hansen was regarded by many, including Mark Leam, as a political redneck. >> We are in danger of being swamped by Asians. >> Can I just remind you of something you wrote about Pauline? You said, “The handsome persona is a perfect match for the One Nation constituency, resentful, distrustful, and overwhelmingly negative.

” Do you stand by any of that? Well, that’s the sort of thing you’d expect from a Labour Party politician at the time fighting another political I know. Well, but but uh you know, politics has changed fundamentally since then. And and that in terms of Labour Party criticism of Paul is incredibly mild. >> The year 2000, you’re talking about 18 years ago.

>> Sure. So, what’s changed? Is it Pauline that’s changed or is it you? >> I think we all change as people in public life, but overwhelmingly the biggest change has been in the political landscape itself. you know, um, I I got involved in politics. I thought democracy was a fine thing because you could say what you wanted, articulate your opinion and have a debate about policy issues.

Today, you want to debate those issues, they just try and hail you down with races, xenophobe, misogynist, homophobe, islamophobe, they got so all these foes. >> Pauline couldn’t have said it better herself. Mark Laam is now One Nation’s New South Wales leader and will contest a seat in the upper house in the state election later this month.

Pauline says she saw his potential way back when she was first elected in 1996. >> I always imagined Mark to be a future prime minister. >> Even back then. >> Even back then. >> I he did. Laam was in with a fair chance of becoming prime minister when up against John Howard in the 2004 federal election. >> Good.

Good. How are you? >> That is until this infamous handshake which turned his image from potential PM to public bullying. >> Well, good. Good to see you. >> That handshake when you shook Mark’s hand, no concerns. I think he’s a good he’s got a good firm handshake which I like and the fact is that I trust people on the handshake.

>> Do you think about that handshake? >> No, not at all. No regrets about >> Well, I’m beused at some of the coverage. I think I chopped the B’s head off or something, you know. >> It was quite a moment for >> Well, for the media and >> No, it was quite a moment for you, too, I think.

So, do you ever regret some of the things you’ve done? Well, everyone’s got regrets in life, of course. Of course, you wouldn’t be human if you think that if you think No, not in the circumstances. Um, no. I I’ve made other errors as opposition leader, but uh I don’t I don’t think that’s top of the list. >> Both Hansen and Laam have reputations for attracting trouble.

>> Listen here. >> What are you doing? >> Only a few weeks ago, Hansen’s chief of staff, James Ashby, was caught in this dust up inside Parliament House. with her former colleague, Senator Brian Buren. >> Bystanders snapped Pauline Hansen’s chief of staff, James Ashby, clashing with One Nation turncoat, Brian Buren, and his wife, Ros.

>> It’s unbelievable. >> And Laam has a history of involvement in angry confrontations. >> The party that built you, the party that made you. >> One of the more famous was in 2001 when he broke a taxi driver’s arm in a dispute over the fair. All I feel his two hands, one here and one here on my mouth and my when my lip was bleeding.

>> I was a victim of of theft and I have no regrets about the action that I took. >> I guess that’s what’s feeding into a perception about you is that you are this angry man that you are vengeful that you are difficult and and prickly and capable of um being very much aggressive. >> Well, I’m I’m I’m outspoken.

Um, I’ve never attacked anyone uh physically other than um in a circumstance notoriously with the taxi driver who stole my property. It wasn’t attack. It was a tackle to recover my property as I was legally entitled to do. So, the media carry on about these things. But isn’t it sad that their focus is on the skirmish instead of the policy? >> You create the skirmishes.

Are you deliberately controversial? >> Well, I suppose I do take the view that I’m not a punching bag for people. >> Paul, you’re comfortable with all this? Yes, I am actually. I really am. >> There’s nothing you’ve heard Mark say or sit do that that has ever made you >> No, it doesn’t. Because you know what? I have never worn Mark’s shoes and everyone wants to have a go at us because we are prepared to stand up and speak up for ourselves on policy and what’s happening in this country, but you try to pull us down for whatever

little reason. This is a lot of the media and I’m sick of it. I’m over it. Let the people judge us and they’ll have their say at the ballot box. Well, I I don’t mind people standing up for themselves at all. I think all I’m asking either of you is uh or both of you, are you comfortable in the manner that you >> Yes, I am.

And we both because we’re not going to back down just because pressure is put on us by precious a precious few out there that say we’ve got to um change our views. Not no, it’s not going to happen. No one saw this coming. >> It’s a road Pauline Hansen’s been down before. Taking on a new One Nation partner, but there’s never been anyone quite like former ALP leader Mark Leam.

>> You’re not bothered about the negatives that we’ve all heard about. >> Hey Liz, what about >> you broken the odd arm of a taxi driver? >> Uh Liz, what about all the negatives they’ve put out about me? Although I haven’t tried to break an arm of a taxi driver. Pauline’s already found Lean’s no pushover, having conceded ground on one of the policies she’s most passionate about, banning the burka.

>> He doesn’t believe in banning it completely in communities or on streets and that type of thing, but um we’ve sort of spoken about and compromised. >> So, he wasn’t necessarily on board in the beginning. >> No. Um he had concerns about it. I respect his opinion. He’s out there talking to people as much as what I’m talking to people.

And it’s about finding the the balance there. >> Pauline tells me that you weren’t necessarily across the line on banning the burger. Is that right? >> Um no. It was more the the practical implementation of it. >> Paul’s view if they wear it in their in their own mosque if they want to wear it in their own home.

Um, Mark didn’t believe that was a that was a real problem. I, you know, think that to wear the full B, the full covering, especially getting your driver’s license or driving a car, it’s not feasible. It’s it’s unworkable. Where it does impact on society is in banks, in government buildings, in schools, in hospitals, and these type of things.

And to prove her point, in 2017, Hansen wore a burka into the Senate. >> Senator Hansen, >> I’m quite happy to remove this because this is not what should belong in this parliament. There was disbelief and there was outrage. >> To ridicule that community, >> to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do.

And I would ask you to reflect on what you have done. >> How did you feel about Pauline’s stunt in the parliament? >> Well, she was making a point about security. >> If our society changed and you have someone elected to parliament, they can wear a full burger in the parliament. How do we know who they are? How do we know? Because our votes are taken on facial recognition.

>> So your start. >> Well, the main thing is Pauline whipped it off quickly and that’s what everyone should do. Whip it off quickly and get rid of it. >> It is one subject where Laam seemed keen to end the discussion. >> Hello. >> And perhaps it’s an illustration of what he brings to the One Nation team. >> Hello.

>> She has the star power. Oh my god. Yeah, >> especially in the country. >> Why don’t you get in here, Mark? >> No, no, I’m taking the photo. >> He has the political smarts. >> Tell your parents to vote for us. Good idea. >> What are the skills that Mark brings to One Nation that you don’t have? >> He’s very um the way he expresses policy.

Um um yeah, >> you said to me that Mark is very good at articulating his position and that’s not something that you felt was your strong suit. >> That’s right. That’s right. He’s um he does articulate. It’s um probably better than what I do. Sometimes people have accused me of we understand what she’s trying to say but if she’d said it in a different way and I think that’s my problem.

>> Well, it’s not a problem. It comes with the strength of authenticity but you know everyone tries to improve in a public life and uh I’m no doubt >> I think I’m improved the last 22 years especially. But it’s not an easy job. I know my faults. No one needs to tell me about my faults. I’m my worst critic. But I’m out there and I’m trying to do the best possible job that I can.

If Mark can actually enhance it and you know, if I can learn from him along the way and we can work well together, that’s what it’s about. It’s the end result. That’s what I want. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Right now, it would seem neither can do much wrong in the eyes of the other. >> How does that work? >> And so far, this odd couple remains united, if not always by common vision.

by the love they’re feeling from a public fed up with politics as usual. >> Yes. Awesome. >> Pauline said to me that um what would deeply hurt her is if you were elected under the One Nation ban and walked away. >> No. Well, that’s not going to happen. I’m I’m committed to what we’re standing for, what we’re fighting for.

And you know, I I I love the state where I’ve always lived. And um I would respect the people in saying if you voted for me as One Nation, I’ll be there advocating One Nation policies until I drop. >> I hope you >> which won’t hopefully be in the next 5 minutes or anytime soon. But you know, we all get on a bit.

We’re not the spring chickens we used to be, are we, Pauline? >> Well, you’re younger than what I am a little bit. But anyway, don’t drop dead on me, please. >> You’ve maintained yourself better than I have. So, you know, you’ve got one advantage. So at this point, well, you are telling me you’re in for the long haul. One Nation is your party.

Of course, >> you’re not going to steal it from Pauline. It’s not going to become Mark Laam’s One Nation, >> and you’re not going to bugger off. >> No, it’s not going to become Mark Laam’s One Nation, and I’m not going to bug her off anywhere. >> If you don’t, >> oh well, you’ve wasted your show. >> Have you wasted your time? >> Well, it’s the verdict of democracy, as Churchill famously said.

Not the perfect system, but miles better than anything else. that’s ever been devised. So, we love democracy and may the people make their decision.