Pauline plays mother duck as she parades new recruit in Canberra

May 13, 2026 — 1:28pm

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It is not unusual for Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party to revel in controversy when the national spotlight turns their way.

But in their first appearance in Canberra since One Nation won its first lower house seat with victory in the Farrer byelection, Hanson took on the role of mother duck, batting controversies away.

The One Nation leader was keen to project confidence on Wednesday as she paraded the party’s fledgling MP, David Farley, on a victory lap of Parliament House flanked by her four others.

“Although he hasn’t been sworn in, David’s decided he wants to get his feet under the table [and] understand the process,” Hanson said, before opening the floor to questions.

The 15-minute press conference was wobbly at best as the One Nation leader ended up downplaying some of the sharpest edges of grievance and conflict that the party has honed for decades.

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So keen to tread carefully was Hanson that, in front of an unusually big press pack, she stepped in front of her MPs on several occasions........

© WA Today