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Despite her support for Senator-elect Hill, party leaders insist Ms Hanson
is considering nominating if she cannot take the seat.
In a hearing before the High Court, Brisbane businessman Mr Henry Sue and
a former One Nation candidate, Mr Terry Sharples, claim Senator-elect Hill
is ineligible because she failed to renounce her British citizenship before
the election last October, when she won a Queensland Senate spot.
Mr Maurice Swan, counsel for the Australian Electoral Commission, told the
court yesterday that if a Senate recount was ordered, Mr Len Harris, who
held the second spot on One Nation's ticket, would almost certainly be elected.
A court loss by Senator-elect Hill would give One Nation three options: either
Mr Harris would be elected, or he would be persuaded to stand aside for either
Ms Hanson, who failed in her bid to be elected the MP for Blair, or Senator-elect
Hill if she is renominated.
Ms Hanson, the party's full-time national president, said yesterday she would
support Senator-elect Hill's renomination. "I am not at all contemplating
at all any position in the Senate. That belongs to Heather Hill," she said.
But she said she might be a Senate candidate at the next election.
One Nation's Queensland leader, Mr Bill Feldman, said Ms Hanson was still
considering her options and "at this stage, Pauline hasn't made a decision".
Mr Shaun Nelson, one of five One Nation MPs to quit the party earlier this
year, said Mr Harris had told local members he had no intention of standing
aside for Ms Hanson or Mrs Hill.
"One Nation people up here are supporting Len Harris and this is obviously
going to cause a split within One Nation," Mr Nelson said.
Mr Harris, who could not be contacted yesterday, has previously told the
Herald he would not be standing aside.
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