‘Watch your back’: Hanson’s family succession plan leaves Barnaby as a spare heir

Coalition MPs have seized on Pauline Hanson’s suggestion her daughter Lee could be the next party leader, questioning whether Barnaby Joyce would play second fiddle to the Hanson family and warning Hanson to “watch your back”.

At a Chamber of Commerce function in Perth on Thursday, Hanson said she would not quit politics until the “right people” were in place. She hinted that could be her daughter Lee Hanson, who stood at the last election for a Tasmanian Senate seat and will do so again.

The 72-year-old Hanson said she was proud of her daughter and that she would be a great asset to One Nation in the federal parliament, if she were elected to the Senate. Support for One Nation has surged to record levels since the last election.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to be [her political career], but I’m not going anywhere ’til I know that I’m comfortable to hand on to the next one to carry on my legacy, what I’ve started, and I’m not going to give up on it,” she said.

But Nationals MP Llew O’Brien, who remains friends with Joyce and who was a strong advocate for him to remain in the Nationals, questioned the wisdom of Hanson’s comments. He said the former deputy prime minister was “doing a bloody good job for them”.

“If Pauline is looking for someone, she has someone right in front of her face. Barnaby has obviously improved the fortunes of the party since he has been there and added a level of expertise,” he said.

“I don’t think Barnaby signed up with One Nation to play second fiddle to Lee [Hanson].

“When I hear that comment, I hear that the person [Hanson] wants to hand on to is not there yet.”

A second Nationals MP, Darren Chester, who was at loggerheads with Joyce in the party room, took aim at the former party leader.

“I have a little word of warning for Pauline Hanson … watch your back. If I’ve learnt one thing in 18 years of federal parliament, it’s to never trust a word that Barnaby Joyce says. He has never been a team player and won’t be satisfied unless he becomes leader,” Chester said.

“Joyce has a long history of failed relationships in the parliament and throughout his career, he has made it his business to undermine a succession of National Party leaders including Warren Truss, Michael McCormack and David Littleproud.”

Asked about Hanson’s comments in Perth, Joyce said he was not concerned.

“It doesn’t worry me, I am here because I’m trying to move a political philosophy. I am not interested in who’s the next PM, the next leader,” he said.

One Nation MP David Farley also played down Hanson’s comments, dismissing as hypothetical the question of who would be One Nation’s next leader.

“I’ve met Lee on a number of occasions. If Lee was part of the party, she would be a good team member and ultimately as the party grows, if she has aspirations, I’m sure she would put her hand up,” he said.

Asked what the comments meant for Joyce, Farley said: “That’s all very hypothetical at the moment. Lee has to enter politics first.”

Similarly, a Liberal MP who asked not to be named said Hanson’s comments were “extraordinary” and it looked like the current party leader was looking to anoint a dynastic successor.