Update 16th March: Hanson and a former campaign leader have released statements regarding the authenticity of the photos. One claims they’re legit and the other is screaming fake, read about it here.

Hanson just can’t seem to stay out of the headlines, she’s like our own political version of Nadya Suleman. Love or hate her politics you have to give the women (indirect) credit for making politics more tabloidingly interesting in Australia.

Nude photos surfaced overnight featuring Pauline Hanson and whilst it’s not the best way to embrace a Sunday morning still, things could be worse. See the images below:

Some things, like blue eye shadow for example, never go out of style.

Fellow Australians, if you are seeing me now it means I have been (politically) murdered

- Pauline Hanson

Given that this was taken in the 70's, it's probably a good idea that this one is censored. Although I have to admit I am morbidly curious as to whether the drapes match the curtains.


Allegedly the photos were taken in the 1970′s by a then army commando Jack Johnson. Hanson and Johnson had gone out a few times and on one particular occasion he gave her some lingerie. Alcohol + lingerie + camera and so the story goes the rest is history.

Allegedly four years ago he did try to return the photos to her. Johnson claims;

“that four years ago he attempted to give the images back to Hanson when she gave a speech in the Queensland town of Stanthorpe, but her staff prevented him speaking to her.

A message he left for her to contact him went unanswered.”

Then a fortnight or so ago Sydney resident Johnson was digitising his photo collection and came across the photos again. He was with a friend at the time and the monetary worth of the photos came up. With bone cancer treatment debts looming Johnson went to the media and sold the photos for an undisclosed amount.

“sorry it’s come to this, sweetheart … that’s the way it is”

I guess when an ex asks to speak to you and you have prior knowledge of some sexy time photos taken a few decades back, it’s probably a good idea to take them up on their offer. To be fair though it was her staff that knocked him back so it’s probably highly likely she never saw or knew of the request.

There is also some questionability as to the honesty of Johnson’s claims. I’m not well versed in the Army’s treatment of ex-soldiers, but Paul seems to be, he writes;

The former soldier (Johnson) reckons he served for 18 years and claims he sold the pictures to cover expenses for treatment for bone cancer. That sounds like a lot of rubbish because the Australian government cares for seriously ill ex-servicemen by issuing them with a ‘Gold Card.’ Every medical treatment comes free.

What the man hasn’t realised is that in selling the pictures to the media he has brought disgrace on himself and the Australian Army. Ms Hanson is a sexual victim. Shame on him. That’s my view as a former Australian soldier.

I to some extent agree, it does seem odd that if he served that long Johnson would be left out in the cold by the Army, if true it casts a wider doubt on the rest of his story which does seem a bit convenient.

It will be interesting to see Pauline’s reaction to the photos. She’s infamous for spitting the dummy and getting emotional on camera.

Here’s an example of her going off at Today Tonight;



and again at Channel 10;


For it now it looks like things are relatively calm over at the Hanson camp;

campaign manager Bronwyn Boag said Hanson was too busy to come to the phone and they did not “care about photos”.

Given past performance and the highly personal nature of this particular incident, I’m willing (and probably half the media is gagging for it) that there’s bound to be some fireworks down the pipeline. I wouldn’t want to be moderating Pauline’s next press conference that’s for sure, the press are going to tear her a new one.

Personal reactions aside, the begging question at the end of the day however is will this sink her political career for good?

Personally I don’t think so. It’s not the first time details of Pauline’s sex life have been made public. She herself has released intimate information regarding David Oldfield and it didn’t stop her political career back then as ComicJester points out;

Pauline, you cant really cry martyr after you wrote about rooting David Oldfield in your auto bio a few years back, or is it only her privacy that should be respected?

The mainstream media are also quick to jump on thwarting Hanson playing the victim card, Robyn Riley from the Herald Sun goes viciously for the throat;

Expect Ms Hanson to complain this is yet another example of unfair attention by the media.

Expect her to whine again of being a victim of a smear campaign by people wanting to derail her efforts to win the seat of Beaudesert.

Don’t consider yourself special. That is how it should be for every candidate charged with upholding our moral, ethical and legal rights.

If you don’t like it, get out of the spotlight.

Just wow, such catty remarks from the mainstream media and from a female no less. Feminism eat your heart out.

Whilst there’s no doubt Pauline will be the butt (boom-tish) of many a joke in years to come (I can hear a thousand stand up comedians scrambling for their pad and pens) but like or hate her policies, Pauline has shown us what it’s like to be a human candidate. Whilst politicians like Kevin Rudd attempt to show their human side by dropping profanity during interviews, Pauline, no matter how controversial seems to get it just right and show that there is indeed a person behind the name.

Clem Bastow expresses the natural reaction that’s hard to fight;

I can honestly say I never thought the day would come when I found myself expressing my respect for Pauline Hanson’s handling of any situation; the One Nation leader has been racist, bigoted, infuriating and beligerent, but I never expected this.

Exactly Clem. Whilst I don’t agree with a lot of her policies and sincerely hope she’s never seen running the country, I do think that the rich tapestry of Australian Politics would be all the poorer without politicians like her.

Keep on campaigning Pauline, you’ve earnt it.

Footnote:

Requests for uncensored versions of the photos have started to pop up and as far as I know they haven’t been released into the wild yet. The photos were allegedly sold by Johnson to the Daily Telegraph and presumably Johnson would have been made to sign a contract prohibiting him from releasing the photos, or would have been made to destroy his own copies.

Thus only Johnson and the Daily Telegraph are likely to have uncensored copies so if they are leaked it’ll be from either of them. There’s a lot of adveritising money to be made from a story like this so don’t expect the Daily Telegraph to be leaking uncensored photos into the wild anytime soon.

Update 16/03/09 8:53am:

Pauline has come out guns blazing and and flatly denied that the images posted above are actually her. The Age quotes Hanson;

“I have started legal proceedings. I am fighting this and I have had enough. This always happens right on election time and it is terribly embarrassing.”

“My kids have gone through hell over the years and I have been put through hell myself.”

Ms Hanson says she’s furious about the publication of the photos in News Limited papers but is determined to continue her campaign until polling day on Saturday.

Well so much for quiet dignity and getting on with it, I guess we can expect more fireworks after Saturday. I’d hate to be her kids, can only imagine what it’s like being able to type your mum’s name + nude into google and seeing her all over the intenet. Wouldn’t want to be dating those kids anytime soon, all aboard emotionally damaged trainwreck!

1. Pauline Hanson hates Muslims, decides to move to UK
2. Lies and denial, the day after the Hanson nudes
3. Vexnews and Pauline the bogan hater
4. Lying to the media and profiting. Who's to blame?