Controversy is soaring as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson racked up nearly $9,000 in taxpayer-funded travel for a private charter to attend an event linked to mining tycoon Gina Rinehart.
Records reveal Hanson flew from Tamworth, NSW to Avalon Airport, Victoria in October 2025 to attend the launch of a student accommodation building at Marcus Oldham College — a project supported by a hefty donation from Rinehart. The charter cost $8,870 and was billed as parliamentary travel.
Hanson’s office defended the expense, claiming no commercial flights were available and that attending the event qualified as official business because the college houses Queensland students.
But critics are firing back, questioning whether the trip was truly parliamentary business or just a taxpayer-funded detour to hobnob with a billionaire donor.
This latest disclosure reignites long-running debates over the “dominant purpose” rule, which says taxpayer-funded travel must have a clear parliamentary purpose, not just political or fundraising perks.
💬 Social media is buzzing: “$9,000 for a flight to hang out with a billionaire?!” one user tweeted. Another added, “If this is allowed, what’s stopping MPs from chartering jets to every fancy event?”
Hanson has faced similar scrutiny before, and this latest claim may put her right back in the national spotlight.
