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Julia Gillard and Pauline Hanson - Source: Reuters/ONE News -
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Pauline Hanson is backing Tony Abbott, the man who helped kill off her political career, over Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Hanson, the other famous female redhead of Australian politics, said she'd put her grudges to the side and supports the opposition leader's tilt for the top job.
"I just see her as a clone of Rudd," Hanson said from her Ipswich property today.
"I won't be voting for Julia Gillard PM.
"She was there for all the decisions.
"I don't like the way they handled the Pink Batts situation.
"I don't like the way they handed out the (stimulus) money."
The former One Nation leader said she was not a feminist and supported the best person for the job.
"I personally wish her all the best as a woman," Hanson said.
"But I don't think she is the best person for the job.
"I, like many Australians, have lost faith in our politicians."
Asked who she thought was the best person for the job, Hanson stopped short of nominating Queensland Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce for PM.
"I think he speaks out on behalf of the Australian people," she said.
"A lot of the other politicians will tell you one thing and do another.
"People are just sick of lies."
The former independent member for Oxley said many Australians were concerned about border protection.
"What's Julia going to do about the illegal boat people?" she said.
"Why are we paying for them (to stay) in hotels?
"Is she going to take a tough stand?
"Australian people are sick and tired of the illegals coming here and being looked after when we can't look after our own."
She said Gillard would be a puppet for the unions.
Hanson said she supported Abbott for prime minister despite their history as foes.
After the 1998 election, as Workplace Relations Minister, Abbott set up a $A100,000 clandestine trust fund to bankroll legal action against Hanson and One Nation.
The fund was called Trustee of Australians For Honest Politics and it paid for a legal challenge against the registration of One Nation as a political party in Queensland.
Hanson was subsequently convicted of electoral fraud and on August 20, 2003, she started a three-year jail term.
Many people described her as a political prisoner at the time. The conviction was overturned in November 2003.
Hanson said she was not Abbott's best friend but he was a better alternative prime minister.
"Tony Abbott came after me, he was responsible for the slush fund against me," Hanson said.
"But you know what, I'll back Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party.
"I'm the type of person who will not hold a grudge for the sake of holding a grudge.
"If Tony Abbott takes a strong stand on the illegal boat people he'll walk in the next election."
She ruled out having another crack at running for parliament.
"No, no, no I'm not running," she said.
"I won't be here in the country anyway."
Hanson said she would be relocating to London for an extended period of time in August and might not be around for the next election.
But she added: "I'm not moving there permanently."
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