Scrutiny Mounts for Senator Hanson Over Travel, Finances, and Election Funding

Senator Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, is facing multiple reviews concerning her use of taxpayer-funded travel entitlements, the party's financial record-keeping, and its compliance with electoral funding laws. These matters involve flights on private aircraft owned by companies associated with mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, as well as the party's financial reporting and public funding claims.

Travel and Flight Arrangements

Chartered Flight to Victoria (October 2025)

Senator Hanson claimed $8,870 in taxpayer funds for a chartered flight from Tamworth, New South Wales, to Avalon, Victoria, on October 19, 2025. The flight was used to attend the opening of new student accommodation at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong—an event that celebrated a $2 million donation to the college by Gina Rinehart. The flight departed Tamworth at 8:33 AM and landed at Avalon airport before midday.

A spokesperson for Senator Hanson stated that the cheapest available option was chosen, citing a lack of commercial flights between Tamworth and Avalon. Senator Hanson had been in Tamworth on October 18 for a party dinner.

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) has rules requiring that taxpayer-funded travel serve a "dominant purpose" of parliamentary business and demonstrate "value for money."

Flights on Aircraft Owned by Rinehart-Connected Companies

Senator Hanson has been a passenger on multiple flights using private aircraft registered to S. Kidman & Co, a company majority-owned by Gina Rinehart.

South Australian Election Campaign (March 2025)
Cory Bernardi, the lead One Nation candidate for the South Australian state election, traveled with Senator Hanson on a plane owned by S. Kidman & Co. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft traveled to Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Maitland, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, and Coober Pedy over several days in mid-March.

Mr. Bernardi stated he expected to be billed for the flights and would pay for them, characterizing them as expenses for his state upper house campaign. Senator Hanson stated that Mr. Bernardi would pay for the flights, asserting it was "nothing to do" with her. Mr. Bernardi acknowledged Ms. Rinehart as a "friend" but said he did not yet know the total cost.

Florida Trip (October 2024)
Senator Hanson used taxpayer-funded flights from Hobart to Brisbane in October 2024 at a cost of $1,990 to board a private jet to Florida, which was paid for by Gina Rinehart. Upon returning to Brisbane from Florida, she billed taxpayers $505 for a Comcar.

Other Reported Flights
Senator Hanson's federal register of interests includes a report of flights provided by S. Kidman & Co between March 14 and 15. Her office has stated that flights provided by Ms. Rinehart's company saved taxpayer money.

Declaration of Gifts and Flights

Senator Hanson initially did not declare a flight from Melbourne's Essendon airport to Sydney on Gina Rinehart's Gulfstream G700 on October 19, 2025. After Guardian Australia published details of this flight, Senator Hanson updated the register of interests. When asked at a press conference if she had received flights or transfers from Hancock Prospecting, Senator Hanson initially responded "No," and when asked again, stated "I can't remember." She updated the register on the same day.

A previous instance in 2024 involved Senator Hanson and her chief of staff, James Ashby, receiving flights from Hancock Prospecting for travel to and from Florida without proper declaration.

Scrutiny of Entitlements and Travel Claims

Assurance Review (2024)

Senator Hanson's use of taxpayer-funded travel was subject to an assurance review by the IPEA after she claimed nearly $5,000 to attend Gina Rinehart's 70th birthday party in Perth in 2024. Her office provided diary entries showing meetings with senior executives from Hancock Prospecting, which were used to justify the trip. She was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Coinciding with Fundraising Events (December 2022)

Senator Hanson and former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce attended multiple private events in December 2022 on the luxury cruise ship The World, which is owned by Gina Rinehart. Both politicians claimed taxpayer-funded travel for these events.

• December 17, 2022, Brisbane: Ms. Rinehart hosted a fundraiser on the ship, auctioning a dinner with Donald Trump and Trump-branded handbags, raising $300,000 for One Nation. Mr. Joyce claimed flights from Sydney to Brisbane ($1,264 total for two events) and $1,500 in accommodation.
• December 22, 2022, Sydney: Another private event was held on the ship. Mr. Joyce claimed a flight from Tamworth to Sydney. Senator Hanson claimed a return day trip flight from Brisbane to Sydney ($720) and a taxpayer-funded Comcar.
• January 2, 2023, Hobart: Senator Hanson and her daughter hosted a private lunch on the ship for business leaders. Senator Hanson did not claim flights for this event.

Parliamentary rules prohibit the use of taxpayer resources for fundraising or soliciting donations.

One Nation Financial Reporting and Electoral Funding

Party Financial Records (2016-2022)

Guardian Australia reported that One Nation's financial returns, lodged with the Queensland Office of Fair Trading, contain over $1 million in missing and worthless assets. Accounting professor Matthew Pinnuck described the reports as "sloppy and unprofessional."

Key issues identified in the reports include:

• Failure to hold annual general meetings on time
• Late or missing filings
• Using a non-director to sign a director's declaration
• Reporting purchases and sales of property and equipment ($575,710 purchased and $492,491 sold in 2021) that were not reflected in the balance sheet
• Writing off over $100,000 in office equipment as worthless in the same year of purchase (2020)
• Reporting financial losses of $1.05 million in 2022 and $517,000 in 2021
• Listing a $500,000 investment in the collapsed Mayfair Platinum scheme as a current asset worth $265,000–$300,000
• Legal fees of almost $200,000 in 2022

The party has not filed annual returns since 2022. The Queensland Office of Fair Trading issued a show cause notice after years of late filings. The party held its 2021 and 2022 AGMs on February 18, 2023, which breached legal requirements.

Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) Review of Public Funding Claim

The AEC is reviewing a public funding claim of more than $6 million submitted by One Nation for the 2025 federal election. The AEC questioned 143 expense items totaling $809,648.11, representing nearly 15% of the party's $6.01 million claim. One Nation voluntarily withdrew those items pending further review.

The AEC is investigating potential breaches of electoral funding laws related to payments to certain suppliers. Two key documents have been withheld, with the AEC citing that disclosure could jeopardize the investigation.

One Nation has previously been found to have wrongly claimed public funding. In 2021, the AEC subjected Senator Hanson to an enforceable undertaking, finding she claimed about $165,000 in expenses that were not electoral expenditure or had not been incurred.

Victorian Byelection Campaign Finance

Ahead of a byelection for the Mornington Peninsula seat in Victoria, reports alleged One Nation's Victorian state president, Warren Pickering, advised a candidate to use a personal bank account for campaign finances. One Nation stated the reports contained "false allegations" and that no personal bank account was used. Candidate Darren Hercus said he was using his personal credit card to fund his campaign. Senator Hanson stated the party's accounts would be audited by the electoral commission.

South Australian Donation Law Compliance

South Australia's new laws, enacted before the recent state election, prohibit political donations to parties, politicians, and candidates, with certain exemptions. The legislation sets a $5,000 cap on individual donations or loans. Breaches could result in fines or jail time.

The South Australian Labor Party contacted the state's electoral commissioner to investigate the use of the private plane by Senator Hanson and Mr. Bernardi.

The SA Electoral Commission did not comment specifically on the flights but provided general information, stating that registered political parties without an incumbent member of parliament may accept electoral donations up to the legislative cap of $5,000. The commission also noted that contravening the registration requirement for third parties spending over $10,000 is a criminal offense.

One Nation has reported receiving over $7 million in public funding following its success in the South Australian election. A recent YouGov poll indicated One Nation's primary vote at 22 percent.