FORMER Ipswich politician and controversy magnet Pauline Hanson is in line for a shock return to politics.
Hanson, the former One Nation Party leader, has edged ahead of a Greens candidate in the Upper House election for New South Wales State Parliament.
Ms Hanson, who now lives north of Newcastle, was last night ahead of third Greens candidate Jeremy Buckingham.
Labor's sixth candidate, Andrew Ferguson, had slipped behind them both.
The first votes counted in the Upper House were from Sydney and metropolitan areas and saw Ms Hanson's stock dwindle, but the former fish and chip shop owner performed better in votes that were counted yesterday in rural NSW.
However, the Greens were still a good chance of winning the final spot last night because they could benefit from any Labor preferences.
Ms Hanson will need to increase her lead over the Greens and Labor candidates to secure the last seat.
On current figures, 17 seats have been clearly decided, 10 for the Coalition, five for Labor and two for the Greens.
NSW Labor powerbrokers said a Greens decision not to preference the ALP in the Upper House could become the primary reason for Ms Hanson to win.
Ms Hanson was an Ipswich councillor in 1994 before winning the 1996 federal seat of Oxley, which covered Ipswich at the time.
Just before that election, Ms Hanson told The Queensland Times that she supported the cutting of government assistance for Aborigines above what was available for other Australians.
That stance was reported as one of the major reasons for her election victory.
