Pauline Hanson has declared herself a trade protectionist while spruiking her agriculture credentials to farmers.
The firebrand One Nation senator addressed the National Farmers Federation congress on Thursday, telling the audience how she understood rural people because she too once had a small farming property.
"I grew up in the city but I loved the land," she told the Canberra conference.
She asked farmers to lobby her for ideas.
"I have my opinions but I don't know everything,."
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But the One Nation leader dismissed foreign ownership of agricultural land and free trade agreements.
"I'm a protectionist," she said.
"I'm all for trade, that's fine, but we ... must put on tariffs to protect our industries."
An audience member criticised general populist reaction against free trade, saying some people were conflating innovation and modernisation and blaming trade for it.
Independent MP Bob Katter, who was also on the panel, took the man to task shouting back that free traders had hurt the agriculture sector.
"Congratulations sir!" Mr Katter bellowed.
Earlier at the conference, Assistant Trade Minister Keith Pitt warned about the impact of anti-free trade minor parties, saying it was a substantial problem facing the nation.
"I just find that to be absolutely outrageous," he said of calls to cease trade.
"Australia is a trading nation. For my electorate, it means jobs and without trade there would be half as many positions."
Ms Hanson believes One Nation won many votes at the recent election because many rural and regional people felt "forgotten and taken for granted".
She's told the ABC her party poses a risk to established rural parties in Queensland such as Katter's Australian Party.
