Pauline Hanson has claimed thousands of pounds in taxpayer-funded flights and chauffeured vehicles to attend political fundraisers for One Nation, raising questions about potential breaches of parliamentary rules. The Queensland senator, who has previously criticised MPs for using taxpayer entitlements, billed for multiple trips that coincided with party fundraising events.
Records from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) show Hanson claimed £1,650 for an 'Australia Day' fundraiser in Adelaide last year, alongside then-One Nation MP Sarah Game. She also claimed over £2,000 for flights from Brisbane to Sydney and Newcastle in February 2025, where she headlined a fundraising dinner on the Central Coast. Comcars linked to that trip totalled £700.
In April 2025, Hanson claimed about £1,200 for flights to and from Newcastle for a fundraiser in Maitland. The previous year, she claimed £2,200 for a Perth trip that included a fundraiser at a floating bar on the Swan River. IPEA records also show she claimed £2,400 across six flights to Hobart in April 2024, coinciding with her daughter Lee Hanson's Senate campaign launch, including a return trip to Sydney for a Sunrise appearance.
Hanson claimed another £2,500 for flights to Hobart to campaign with her daughter in the final week of the election, staying until the day after polling day. The use of taxpayer-funded travel for political campaigning is permitted only if the dominant purpose is parliamentary business, and fundraising events are explicitly excluded unless for charity.
Hanson's travel has previously been reviewed by the expenses watchdog after she claimed nearly £5,000 to attend Gina Rinehart's 70th birthday party in 2024. She was cleared after providing diary entries showing meetings with Hancock Prospecting executives. However, she has repeatedly failed to declare gifts from Rinehart, including private jet flights to Florida and between Melbourne and Sydney.
In November 2024, Hanson claimed £2,260 for flights to Adelaide to join Rinehart at mining and agriculture days, where she was seen dancing with Rinehart at a gala event. The IPEA records highlight ongoing scrutiny of Hanson's expenses amid broader concerns about MPs' use of taxpayer funds.
