Pauline Hanson's chief of staff James Ashby says reports he's planning to contest a seat for One Nation at the next Queensland election purely speculative.
Former One Nation president Ian Nelson has told The Australian that Mr Ashby's ambition to run at the state poll is an "open secret in the party".
On Monday, AAP asked Mr Ashby if he would rule out running in the Sunshine Coast seat of Kawana, or any other seat in Queensland, to which he replied: "It's pure speculation."
Mr Nelson has been waging a bitter public campaign against Mr Ashby since quitting as party president.
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He's described Mr Ashby as "the anti-Christ of politicians" with an undue amount of influence within One Nation.
"Everybody in the party knows he is planning to run, it is an open secret," Mr Nelson told The Australian on Monday.
"And he would have a good chance because Pauline would be there beside him the whole campaign."
One Nation has returned to the Queensland parliament after Steve Dickson, the long-standing member for Buderim and a former minister, defected from the Liberal National Party.
The move has left the opposition Liberal National Party (LNP) with 41 seats to Labor's 42, with Mr Dickson moving to an influential five-strong crossbench.
Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk returns from leave on Monday and begins the task of trying to take the wind out of One Nation's sails before the next poll, with analysts saying the party could take as many as 15 seats.
Independent parliamentary Speaker Peter Wellington has downplayed talk of an early election late in the year.
"I can't see that happening," Mr Wellington told ABC radio on Monday.
"I expect the current government will serve its full term. It's not due to go until this time next year and I anticipate that's what we'll see happen."
