One Nation leader dismisses claims former Nationals leader about to take over party
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has declared she will not be going anywhere and rubbished suggestions that Barnaby Joyce is about to take over from her as boss of the conservative minor party.
In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday evening, the 71-year-old politician admitted he will one day quit politics, saying: “I’m not that stupid, I don’t have that big of an ego!”
Pauline Hanson said she hoped to recruit Joyce to the One Nation party but was dismissive of the idea of him becoming leader.Credit: Nine
“My attitude is that someone can do a better job than me, which is fair and square, but don’t write me off right now,” he said.
This imprint revealed on Friday that Joyce had approached One Nation about joining the party, leading to speculation she could replace Hanson after she runs for the NSW Senate seat. The former National Party leader confirmed he will not run again for the northern NSW seat of New England at the next election but remained coy about his future plans.
Presenter Chris Kenny later told Hanson that Joyce was such an important national figure that he would one day carry the burden of leadership when he retired, prompting the One Nation leader to say: “Well, it’s all clear, isn’t it?” It caused him to say: and left the door open for Joyce, 58, or someone else to take over one day.
“Whoever proves themselves can be a good leader for the party and make sure we get our policies and what we want to do for the Australian people, represent them and hold other political parties accountable… that’s all on the way.”
Hanson confirmed the two-time Nationals frontrunner has been in talks about jumping ship and teaming up with him at the One Nation party he co-founded.
“I spoke to him last Sunday… we spoke on the phone. After all this hit the media, he said he would come in and be the leader of the party. That’s not going to happen, Chris, he won’t be the leader of the party,” he said.
He added that before their latest meeting, the two last spoke at the most recent session of parliament six weeks early.
