Trump tells thousands of Myanmar citizens on temporary protection visas to go home; Hanson under fire for use of expenses in racism case

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson billed taxpayers thousands of dollars for flights, private cars and hotels to attend a special court case in Sydney where she was found to have racially discriminated against Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi.

The Coalition, which has been pitted in the polls by Hanson’s rise since the election, has seized Queenslanders’ expenses, arguing it was unacceptable for public funds to be used for a personal dispute.

Hanson was yesterday condemned by the Senate for Monday’s burqa demonstration and sentenced to a week’s sitting day, a rare rebuke that united the major parties.

The One Nation leader hosted National Party renegade Barnaby Joyce for a steak dinner on Monday night, hours after the provocative demonstration. Yesterday Joyce defended Hanson and hinted that his formal move to One Nation, first flagged by this imprint last month, could take place as early as Friday, despite warnings from his closest National allies about the danger of linking up with Hanson.

Conservatives are nervous about fighting Hanson because public concern about immigration has increased since the election. But repeated attempts to ban Muslim headscarves and his use of spending have opened up new space for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and the National Party to counter Hanson’s rise.