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Hanson lashes 'arrogant' Nicholls

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson believes Tim Mander would be a better LNP leader than Tim Nicholls, as she seeks a candidate to run in his Queensland seat.

Pauline Hanson at a press conference at Parliament House.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson Source: AAP

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Source: AAP


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Pauline Hanson has labelled Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls "arrogant and rude" and says she would prefer dealing with his former leadership opponent Tim Mander.

The One Nation leader says her party is looking for a candidate to contest Mr Nicholls' inner-Brisbane seat of Clayfield.

"I think he's arrogant, I think he's rude and I think it's time for Tim Nicholls to go," Ms Hanson told ABC radio.

"I'd like to see Tim Mander, I think he would make a far better leader for the LNP than what Nicholls is."

Mr Mander was considered a frontrunner in 2016 to take the leadership of the LNP from party elder Lawrence Springborg, following the Newman government's crushing defeat, and was only narrowly beaten by former treasurer Mr Nicholls.

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Ms Hanson also says she will review a policy announced last week by her chief advisor James Ashby to put sitting MPs last in the case of Mr Mander and other Queensland MPs she believes are doing "good work".

"Those ones that are doing the right thing by the state of Queensland and should be there, we are going to consider where we will put them on the ballot paper, and not all of them are going to go last."

One Nation state leader Steve Dickson told AAP on Thursday last week the "put sitting MPs last" policy was subject to change depending on circumstances.

Mr Dickson, who defected to One Nation from the LNP earlier this year, was a supporter of Mr Mander when he was still a member of the party.

Mr Nicholls on Monday said he believed Senator Hanson was "feeling the pressure" and was trying to say something inflammatory to distract from her own party's troubles.

"We work closely together as a team, myself and my deputy Deb Frecklington, Scott Emerson, Tim Mander, Ian Walker, we're tight-knit united team and I suppose that is a very big contrast with what we're seeing with One Nation," Mr Nicholls said.

"They've already lost something like eight or nine of their state candidates since being announced."

Mr Mander backed Mr Nicholls as leader, saying Senator Hanson was up to "a bit of mischief".

"Let me state unequivocally I support Tim Nicholls and all my work is around trying to make him the next premier of Queensland," he said.


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