One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and her chief of staff, James Ashby, travelled to the United States aboard mining magnate Gina Rinehart's private jet last October, an arrangement the senator has yet to declare on the parliamentary register of interests.
Flight Details and Conference Appearance
The journey took place on 27 October 2023 aboard Rinehart's Gulfstream 700 aircraft. Flight tracking data indicates the plane flew from Brisbane to Perth, then via Osaka, Japan, before landing in Palm Beach, Florida, with the trio arriving on 29 October.
The purpose of the travel was for Hanson to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida. In an interview with Sky News, the Queensland senator stated it was her first overseas speech and expressed pride at the invitation, claiming she was there to represent Australian voices. Tickets for the CPAC event reportedly cost between $5,000 and $25,000.
Potential Breach of Parliamentary Rules
Under Senate rules, senators must declare any sponsored travel or hospitality received where the value exceeds $300. Any change in interests must be notified to the registrar within 35 days of it occurring. Hanson's register was last updated in August 2023, well before the October trip, and neither she nor One Nation responded to questions about compliance with these declaration rules.
It remains unclear whether the trip was a gift from Hancock Prospecting, Rinehart's company, or from the billionaire personally. Under Australian Electoral Commission laws, Hancock Prospecting or Rinehart would be required to declare any in-kind support to a senator or party if its value exceeded $17,300.
Political Alignments and Event Attendance
During the US visit, Hanson and Rinehart were photographed seated together at CPAC. The One Nation leader used her speech to criticise Australia's major parties and praised the Trump administration's policies on immigration and mining. Her views on withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and opposing net zero emissions targets closely align with Rinehart's public stance.
The pair also attended Donald Trump's Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago resort, which Hanson described as a "lovely" event. Rinehart is a known supporter of Trump, having been part of the 'Trumpettes' network since 2016 and holding a significant investment portfolio that includes Trump Media & Technology.
The trip coincided with public endorsements from figures within Rinehart's circle. Adam Giles, a former NT chief minister who now heads Rinehart's agricultural business, publicly stated he had donated to One Nation and was encouraging others to do the same. Furthermore, Rinehart's long-time friend, Barnaby Joyce, recently defected from the Nationals to One Nation.
Rinehart's company has historically been a major donor to the Liberal and National parties, contributing $500,000 to the Liberals before the last election. However, she has since been critical of the party's direction, suggesting it failed to follow Trump's lead enthusiastically enough. Following the trip, Hanson's chief of staff, James Ashby, downplayed suggestions of significant financial support from Rinehart, telling Nine Newspapers: "I haven't seen any money from her."
