Untamed & Unashamed - Pauline Hanson

Untamed & Unashamed - Pauline Hanson

Used softback: .in very good condition 2007

About Pauline Hanson

Pauline Lee Hanson, born 27 May 1954 in Brisbane, Queensland, is one of Australia’s most recognisable and controversial political figures. She is best known as the founder and leader of the One Nation Party, and for her populist, nationalist views on immigration, multiculturalism, and Australian sovereignty.

Before entering politics, Hanson worked in various jobs — including as a fish and chip shop owner in Ipswich, Queensland — a background that later became a symbol of her “ordinary Australian” persona. Her political career began in 1994, when she joined the Liberal Party of Australia and was elected as a councillor for the City of Ipswich.

Rise to Prominence (1996–1998)

In 1996, Hanson was preselected by the Liberal Party as their candidate for the federal seat of Oxley in Queensland. However, before the election, she was disendorsed after making comments opposing what she saw as preferential treatment for Aboriginal Australians. Despite losing official backing, she continued as an independent candidate and won the seat in the landslide victory of the Howard Government.

Her maiden speech to Parliament in September 1996 drew national and international attention — and criticism — for statements warning that Australia was in danger of being “swamped by Asians.” She argued that multiculturalism was dividing the nation and that welfare policies for Indigenous Australians were unfair. The speech polarised Australians, but also struck a chord with voters who felt ignored by the political establishment.

In 1997, Hanson founded the One Nation Party with David Ettridge and David Oldfield, positioning it as a populist, anti-globalisation, and nationalist alternative to the major parties. The party rapidly gained support, especially in rural Queensland, where resentment toward economic reforms and immigration was strongest. In the 1998 Queensland state election, One Nation won 11 out of 89 seats, securing nearly 23% of the statewide vote, a remarkable result for a new party.

Decline and Legal Troubles (1999–2003)

Internal conflict and structural problems soon undermined One Nation. Disputes among its founders, legal battles over registration, and allegations of fraud eroded the party’s success. Hanson lost her federal seat in the 1998 election and failed to win another seat in 2001. In 2003, she was convicted of electoral fraud and sentenced to prison, though her conviction was overturned on appeal after three months, as the court found the charges baseless.

Comeback and Renewed Influence (2016–present)

After years of political decline, Hanson staged a dramatic comeback. In the 2016 federal election, she was elected to the Australian Senate, representing Queensland, as One Nation’s leader. The party won four Senate seats, benefiting from a resurgence of nationalist sentiment and discontent with the major parties.

Since returning to Parliament, Hanson has maintained a strong media profile, continuing to voice opposition to high immigration, multiculturalism, foreign ownership, and government support for Indigenous “Voice” proposals. She has also campaigned against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, political correctness, and what she describes as “woke” policies.

Her party’s support has fluctuated — often between 3–8% nationally — but she remains a potent force in shaping public debates, especially on issues of identity, race, and sovereignty. While many Australians see her as divisive or xenophobic, others view her as a plain-speaking advocate for “ordinary Australians.”

Legacy

Pauline Hanson’s political career has spanned nearly three decades of controversy and resilience. She has never held ministerial office but has profoundly influenced Australia’s political landscape by pushing debates about race, immigration, and national identity into the mainstream.

Whether admired or condemned, Hanson has demonstrated an enduring ability to tap into the anxieties of voters who feel alienated by the political elite — ensuring her place as one of the most enduring populist figures in modern Australian history.

Early Life & Entry into Politics

• 1954 – Born 27 May in Brisbane, Queensland.

• 1980s–1990s – Runs a fish and chip shop in Ipswich; becomes active in local community issues.

• 1994 – Elected as a councillor for the City of Ipswich, representing the Liberal Party.

Rise to National Prominence

• 1996 (Jan) – Selected as Liberal Party candidate for the federal seat of Oxley (Queensland).

• 1996 (Feb) – Disendorsed by the Liberals after criticising government welfare policies for Aboriginal Australians.

• 1996 (Mar) – Wins Oxley as an independent in the federal election with a large swing.

• 1996 (Sept) – Delivers her famous maiden speech warning that Australia is “in danger of being swamped by Asians.”

  • The speech gains national and international attention and divides public opinion.

Formation of One Nation

• 1997 (Apr) – Co-founds the One Nation Party with David Ettridge and David Oldfield.

  • Party promotes nationalist, anti-globalisation, and anti-immigration policies.

• 1998 (Jun) – In the Queensland state election, One Nation wins 11 seats (nearly 23% of the vote).

• 1998 (Oct) – Hanson loses her federal seat of Oxley at the general election.

• 1999–2001 – Party suffers major internal splits; members defect amid leadership disputes and registration issues.

Legal Troubles and Political Decline

• 2001 (Nov) – Runs for the federal seat of Blair; defeated.

• 2003 (Aug) – Convicted of electoral fraud (related to party registration).

  • Sentenced to 3 years in prison.

• 2003 (Nov) – Conviction overturned on appeal; Hanson released after serving 11 weeks.

• 2004–2009 – Political hiatus. Tries to re-enter politics with the Pauline’s United Australia Party and later as an independent, but fails to win seats.

Return to Politics

• 2013 – Runs unsuccessfully for a Queensland Senate seat under the One Nation banner.

• 2016 (July) – Major comeback: elected as a Senator for Queensland in the federal election.

  • One Nation wins four Senate seats.

• 2019 – Retains her Senate seat; One Nation’s influence wanes slightly but remains a Senate crossbench force.

Recent Years

• 2020–2022 – Vocal critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.

• 2023–2024 – Opposes the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, leading One Nation’s “No” campaign.

• 2025 – Continues as One Nation leader and Senator for Queensland, maintaining a national profile through social media and conservative media outlets.

Legacy Summary

• Years active: 1994–present

• Parties: Liberal → Independent → One Nation → Pauline’s United Australia Party → One Nation (again)

• Key themes: Nationalism, anti-globalisation, opposition to multiculturalism and foreign ownership, criticism of political elites.

• Notable quote: “I will fight for the rights of ordinary Australians who have been ignored by the major parties.”

Untamed & Unashamed - Pauline Hanson