Anti-immigration firebrand Hanson may fight Australian election

Australian anti-immigration firebrand Pauline Hanson said yesterday she plans to run in this year's general election, saying politicians were out of touch with how ordinary Australians feel.

The controversial former One Nation leader, who once warned Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians before switching her focus to Muslims, made the announcement on Channel Seven television, although it was not clear in what capacity she would stand. "I'm seriously thinking about it and the possibility is yes, I will give it a go. The passion is still there and I'm very concerned about my country," she said. "I just don't think that there are people there who really understand how Australians are feeling. I don't think there is a representation for our culture, our way of life, our standard of living."

Hanson, 58, arrived on the political scene in the 1990s when she ditched her fish and chip shop to represent a Queensland state electorate in the national parliament, forming the anti-immigration and trade protectionist One Nation party.

She lost her seat in 1998 and subsequent attempts to win office failed, including a 2007 run for a national Senate seat in which she campaigned for an end to immigration by Muslims to protect "Australian culture".

In 2011, another comeback bid failed when she lost the race for an upper house seat in the New South Wales parliament.