Hanson leaving one nation for another

The nation's politicians say it will be the end of an era when One Nation founder Pauline Hanson packs her bags for the United Kingdom.

The nation's politicians say it will be the end of an era when One Nation founder Pauline Hanson packs her bags for the United Kingdom and closes the door on Australian politics for good.

Ms Hanson has put her million dollar property up for sale in Coleyville, southwest of Brisbane, and has announced she's moving to Britain.

"I'm going to be away indefinitely. It's pretty much goodbye forever," she told Woman's Day in an interview.

"I've really had enough. I want peace in my life. I want contentment, and that's what I'm aiming for."

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Australia had moved on from Ms Hanson.

"I just think that, you know, there was a time when she articulated a cry of rage from a section of the Australian population but that time has passed and she's now chosen to go in different directions and that's her right," Mr Abbott told reporters in Perth.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says she'd be glad never to see a return of Ms Hanson's politics.

"I don't bear any grudges against people but I certainly wouldn't want to see any return of the political philosophy of One Nation," she told reporters in Brisbane.

"I think it's important for people to remember the terrible damage that One Nation did to our reputation as a country."

At the peak of its popularity the party had 11 Queensland MPs.

Ms Hanson's hardline views on race sparked a national debate over immigration policy and Aboriginal disadvantage from the time she entered federal parliament in 1996.

In her maiden speech, she said "we are in danger of being swamped by Asians", and questioned multiculturalism.

Ms Hanson, 55, told the magazine she was disappointed with the way Australia had changed.

"Sadly, the land of opportunity is no more applicable," she said.

After numerous failed attempts to re-enter politics, Ms Hanson last week said she would never run again, but her One Nation co-founder David Oldfield said she could be planning to launch a political career in the UK.

"I can't see her going back to fish and chips," Mr Oldfield told AAP.

"Is she retiring or is going to become involved in politics in England?"

He said Ms Hanson's populist views may strike a chord in Britain, and she could try her luck with the ultra-right British National Party.

"England has incredible racial problems and the politics of the kind that she's been used to are much, much more serious over there than they are here," he said.

Ms Hanson said she was planning to spend a few months in the South Island of New Zealand and eventually relocate to Britain.

Her father is English and her mother's family is Irish, which means she can hold dual citizenship.


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3 min read
Published 15 February 2010 6:47pm
Updated 24 February 2015 2:46pm
Source: AAP


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