November 23, 2024

Pauline Hanson retains Queensland Senate seat as Amanda Stoker misses out

Stoker #Stoker

Pauline Hanson has retained her Queensland Senate spot, despite One Nation recording a small swing against it, while LNP former assistant attorney general Amanda Stoker has missed out.

The Coalition suffered an almost 4% swing against it in the state’s Senate race, while One Nation lost almost 3% of its 2019 vote.

Both Labor and the Greens had a more than 2% swing towards them, with the Greens Penny Allman-Payne picking up a seat off the LNP.

LNP senators James McGrath and Matt Canavan, as well as Labor senators Murray Watt and Anthony Chisholm were also re-elected.

Hanson was elected to the upper house in 2016, with party colleague Malcolm Roberts winning a seat in 2019.

Stoker was appointed to the upper house in 2018, selected to fill the vacancy left by George Brandis, who went on to be Australia’s high commissioner to the UK.

She becomes another member of the Morrison government’s ministry who failed to retain their seat.

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In a statement on Friday, Hanson said she looked forward to getting back to work and holding the government to account.

“I thank Queenslanders for entrusting me to continue to represent them in Canberra, and I thank all those Australians who supported our party and lifted our national vote,” she said.

“I also congratulate Anthony Albanese on Labor’s win. I’ve said in the past he probably wouldn’t make a good prime minister, however, I sincerely hope he proves me wrong.”

Stoker said serving in the federal parliament was a privilege she had “never taken for granted”.

“I ran for parliament to fight for the Liberal and conservative values that have made Australia free and prosperous, to defend our institutions, and to ensure our sovereignty is protected,” she said.

“I ran to make a difference, and I am proud of what I was able to achieve over the past four years.”

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, former minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt, former Pacific minister Zed Seselja and former special minister for state Ben Morton all lost their seats at the federal election.

The Victorian Senate result will be published by the Australian Electoral Commission on Monday morning after the distribution of preferences.

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