One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has refused a halal-friendly McDonald’s breakfast on the Queensland election trail, instead taking up a fish and chip shop owner’s offer of instant coffee.
The federal senator boarded her ‘battler bus’ in Rockhampton on the fourth day of her tour of key seats in central and northern Queensland ahead of the November 25 poll.
Senator Hanson was already in the headlines after Labor senator Sam Dastyari blamed her for a racist attack on him at a Melbourne pub and the uprise of anti-Muslim sentiment in Australia.
Pauline Hanson (pictured) refused a halal-friendly McDonald’s coffee on the Queensland election trail, instead taking up a fish and chip shop owner’s offer of instant coffee
Senator Hanson was approached by local fish and chips shop owner Gary Bowen, who offered to make her an instant coffee for free – and she got to snack on a chip
Senator Hanson snacked on battered chips, reminiscing about her 10 years behind the fryer
Her chief-of-staff James Ashby was quick to respond to the reports, telling AAP: ‘Sam Dastyari gets heckled because he’s a wanker … and not because he’s a Muslim.’
While journalists sought breakfast and their first coffee of the day from a local McDonald’s, Senator Hanson refused to eat or even go near the store because it is halal-friendly, Mr Ashby said.
Senator Hanson brushed off Senator Dastyari’s claims about her, stating the ‘Mr Bean’ like politician was playing up the whole thing.
‘What a joke, he’s nothing but a pipsqueak,’ she said on Thursday.
‘All he ever does is use my name to get some publicity to actually sell his book.’
Senator Hanson was then approached by local fish and chips shop owner Gary Bowen, who offered to make her an instant coffee for free.
While the pair chatted about the rising cost of gas and electricity, Senator Hanson snacked on battered chips and reminisced about her 10 years behind the fryer.
But it wasn’t long into the journey north for a mechanical issue to arise.
But it wasn’t long into the journey north for a mechanical issue to arise on the ‘battler bus’
The bus’ engine made an intense hissing noise before the check-engine light flicked on
The bus (pictured), carrying a gaggle of reporters, stopped on the side of the Bruce Highway near Marlborough before returning to the servo
The ‘battler bus’ engine started making an intense hissing noise before the check-engine light flicked on.
The bus, carrying a gaggle of reporters, stopped on the side of the Bruce Highway near Marlborough before returning to the servo.
After waiting two hours for a mechanic, a blown turbo hose was found to be the culprit and it was promptly repaired.
‘You think that’s going to stop me, I’m heading north,’ Senator Hanson said.
‘We all have our ups and downs and I can tell you I’ve had mine.’
During the breakdown, truck driver Shane Williams, who is couriering equipment for Australian musician Paul Kelly’s national tour, came to the federal senator’s aid.
After waiting two hours for a mechanic, a blown turbo hose was found to be the culprit and it was promptly repaired
During the breakdown, truck driver Shane Williams (right), who is couriering equipment for Australian musician Paul Kelly’s national tour, came to the federal senator’s aid
Mr Williams, 45, crawled under the bus to check the engine but could not find an obvious fault.
In exchange for his assistance, Senator Hanson bought Mr Williams some sandwiches.
‘I’m a big supporter,’ Mr Williams said.
‘I’m all for what she stands for.
‘I think immigration is a big thing for everybody.’
Senator Hanson is making her way up the Queensland coast, targeting regional seats with the hope of claiming 11 or more seats on November 25.
The One Nation leader is planning to stop in Bowen overnight before heading to Townsville on Friday.