One Nation risks losing legal status as Pauline Hanson fails to turn over financial records

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:56, 29 July 2026 | Updated: 01:58, 29 July 2026 Pauline Hanson's One Nation Queensland division has failed to provide three years of audited financial statements to the state's corporate regulator, despite missing an earlier compliance deadline and now facing a final deadline next month. Queensland's Office of Fair Trading has given the party until August 18 to submit the outstanding financial records, warning that further action could follow if it fails to comply. As president of the Queensland division, Hanson is responsible for ensuring the organisation meets its legal obligations, alongside division secretary and One Nation NSW senator Sean Bell. While the party has since lodged its overdue annual returns, the Office of Fair Trading said the required audited financial statements under Queensland law are still outstanding. 'One Nation Queensland Division Inc has lodged its annual returns to the OFT for the years 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, but these returns did not include the audited financial statements as required by the Associations Incorporation Act 1981,' an Office of Fair Trading spokesman told the Australian. 'The Office of Fair Trading has given the association until 18 August 2026 to lodge the outstanding financial statements.' Failure to comply could leave Hanson, Bell and party treasurer Alex Jones facing individual fines of $690.80 for breaches of the reporting requirements. More significantly, the matter could escalate beyond financial penalties and threaten the party's legal status in Queensland. Hanson (pictured) is liable to provide documents as President of One Nation Queensland The regulator could issue a show-cause notice requiring One Nation to justify why its incorporation should not be cancelled. If the party fails to satisfy the regulator, the Queensland division could lose its incorporated status, stripping the organisation of its legal standing in the state where the party was founded. Daily Mail contacted One Nation Queensland for comment.