Pauline Hanson claimed $16,000 for private charter despite claiming floods tour was at ‘no cost to taxpayer’ | Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson billed taxpayers almost $16,000 on private charter flights to travel around flood-hit Queensland at the suggestion of billionaire Gina Rinehart, but has previously claimed the trip “cost the taxpayer nothing”.
In January, Hanson and Barnaby Joyce flew from the Sunshine Coast to Mount Isa on Rinehart’s luxury Gulfstream G700 plane and then took charter flights to flood-affected communities around Julia Creek to meet local mayors.
Hanson explaining the reasons for the trip He narrated the 2 Worlds Collide podcast In February, he and Joyce had accepted Rinehart’s offer to fly them to visit the area.
“Barnaby and I were visiting him [Rinehart] There was also flooding in Queensland and of course Julia Creek,” Hanson said.
“He said, ‘I think you should go to Julia Creek,’ and I said, ‘yeah, I’d love to.’ He said, ‘I’ll take you and Barnaby there, I think you should go there and see these isolated people and what’s going on there.’ And he said, ‘I’ll fly you there,’ and he flew us out at his own expense.”
Host Sam Bamford stressed that the trip was “not at the taxpayers’ expense”.
“No – it costs the taxpayer nothing!” Hanson replied.
Bamford later criticized those who criticized Hanson’s use of Rinehart’s private jet, suggesting other billionaires were also involved in supporting political parties in Australia. The Guardian reported on numerous flights the One Nation senator took throughout 2025, gifted by Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, that were not advertised in accordance with Senate rules.
In response to Bamford’s comments, Hanson questioned whether people would accept that “we are actually flying on a plane paid for by taxpayers”.
“It doesn’t cost the taxpayer anything, what’s your problem?”
In January, Joyce also defended the use of Rinehart’s plane, saying: “I have no problem with it. Would people rather have taxpayers pay for it?”
Parliamentarian expense reports A report published this week shows that Hanson billed taxpayers for three private flights between Mount Isa and Cloncurry, Cloncurry and Julia Creek and Julia Creek and Mount Isa on January 10. The cost for three flights was $15,990. It is unclear which company provided the exclusive contract.
Under rules governing the use of taxpayer-funded travel, MPs and senators must ensure their requests meet parliamentary business’s “overriding purpose test” and “use public resources in a way that provides value for money for parliamentary business”.
According to Hanson’s interest records, Hancock Prospecting was providing same-day flights between the Sunshine Coast and Mount Isa.
Hanson had also previously billed taxpayers $9,000 for a flight from Tamworth to Avalon in October last year to attend an event held at a private agricultural school in Rinehart’s honour.
Hanson said Rinehart was doing “something for the community” by encouraging his visit to Julia Creek and that he would not have visited the area if not for the mining magnate’s advice.
“He did something for society, what will he get out of it? Absolutely nothing,” he told the podcast.
Hanson praised Rinehart for purchasing “bags and purses” and chocolates from Tim Tams, which she then distributed throughout the community.
“When I arrived I said, ‘We’re only here because of Gina Rinehart,’ and I said, ‘These bags are Tim Tams and everything is not from us, it’s from Gina Rinehart.'”
Hanson has come under increasing pressure over her relationship with Australia’s richest person, and has repeatedly maintained that she received multiple free flights from Hancock Prospecting.
At a press conference in March, Hanson said, “Flights don’t cost the taxpayers anything. That’s what I don’t understand. For me, flying hasn’t cost the taxpayer a penny.”
Hanson announced last month that he had been given a “sexy” new plane by Rinehart and that three of Rinehart’s close associates had donated $2 million.
One Nation did not respond to a request for comment.
