One Nation has announced a significant overhaul of its senior leadership, appointing former Scott Morrison adviser Chris Taylor as Pauline Hanson’s new chief of staff while long-serving strategist James Ashby transitions into a newly created Party Director role focused on national election campaigns.

The appointments represent one of the most substantial organisational changes within One Nation in recent years and come as the party prepares for a busy electoral calendar that includes state elections in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, as well as the next federal election.

Chris Taylor officially commenced as Senator Hanson’s chief of staff on Monday after being recruited to oversee the parliamentary office and help finalise the party’s policy platform. Taylor brings more than two decades of experience across government, law and the private sector, having served as General Counsel and senior adviser to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the COVID-19 pandemic before becoming Chief of Policy at the Australian Banking Association.

Announcing the appointment, Pauline Hanson said One Nation was assembling its strongest team to date as Australians increasingly looked beyond the major parties.

“Australians are asking more of us than ever before,” Hanson said.

“The major parties have stopped listening to regular Australians. Australians are looking for an alternative, and One Nation is ready to stand up for them.”

She said Taylor’s experience across public policy, law and election campaigns would strengthen the party as it prepared detailed policies for future elections.

Taylor said he was motivated by a belief that Australia could achieve stronger economic and political outcomes.

“I refuse to believe our country’s best days are behind it. Australians need someone who will stand up for them and help them get ahead. That is exactly what Pauline Hanson and her team are doing, and I’m looking forward to being part of it,” he said.

The restructuring allows James Ashby to step away from the day-to-day management of Hanson’s parliamentary office after more than a decade as her chief adviser.

Instead, he will concentrate entirely on national campaign operations, candidate recruitment, fundraising, advertising, digital strategy and organisational growth.

Under the new arrangement, Ashby will spend much of his time travelling throughout Australia supporting campaign teams as One Nation prepares for a series of important electoral contests.

Party insiders say the move reflects a desire to separate parliamentary administration from election strategy in much the same way larger political parties divide responsibilities between chiefs of staff and campaign directors.

“Pauline has now given me one job: get out on the road and make sure Australians who have been ignored by the major parties are heard,” Ashby said.

He argued that while Labor and the Coalition benefit from large political organisations, One Nation intended to compete by building stronger grassroots campaigns and connecting directly with voters.

Ashby has been one of the most influential figures inside One Nation since joining Pauline Hanson in 2015.

During that period he has overseen campaign planning, media strategy, fundraising and candidate selection while also serving as leader of One Nation’s Queensland division.

His expanded role is expected to involve frequent travel alongside Hanson as the party contests elections across several states over the next two years. Reports indicate Ashby is also renewing his pilot’s licence so he can fly the party’s aircraft during campaign travel.

The leadership changes come as One Nation seeks to capitalise on improved polling and broaden its appeal beyond its traditional support base.

According to reports, the party has recruited a number of former Coalition donors, campaign workers and political advisers as it builds a more professional campaign organisation ahead of future elections.

Senior party figures believe strengthening policy development and organisational capacity is essential if One Nation is to convert rising public support into additional parliamentary representation.

Taylor’s appointment is widely viewed as part of that strategy.

Before joining One Nation, he advised Scott Morrison on industrial relations, legislative and regulatory issues during the Morrison Government and later worked closely with Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh on financial policy.

His background provides One Nation with senior policy experience across both government and the private sector, complementing Ashby’s campaign-focused responsibilities.

The appointments also arrive during an increasingly active political period for the party.

One Nation is preparing for the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia, Victoria’s state election in November and the New South Wales election in March, while also laying the groundwork for the next federal election.

Pauline Hanson has indicated that developing a comprehensive policy platform is now a priority as the party attempts to present itself as a more established political alternative rather than solely a protest movement.

Political observers note that smaller parties often face significant organisational challenges as they grow.

Success at the ballot box increases demands for policy development, candidate vetting, fundraising, communications and parliamentary support, requiring more specialised organisational structures.

By separating campaign management from parliamentary administration, One Nation appears to be adopting an approach more commonly associated with Australia’s major political parties.

The changes have already attracted attention across the political spectrum.

Speaking after Taylor’s appointment became public, Acting Opposition Leader Jane Hume described Hanson as “lucky” to have Taylor on her team, acknowledging his experience while reiterating that the Liberal Party had no intention of entering a formal coalition with One Nation.

The restructuring also follows a series of other high-profile announcements by One Nation in recent days, including the unveiling of the party’s Victorian election candidates and a broader effort to expand its national campaign organisation.

Hanson has argued that growing dissatisfaction with both Labor and the Coalition presents an opportunity for One Nation to increase its parliamentary representation across Australia.

Whether those organisational changes translate into stronger electoral performances remains to be seen.

However, the appointments of Chris Taylor and James Ashby to clearly defined leadership roles demonstrate One Nation’s intention to strengthen both its policy capability and campaign infrastructure as it prepares for an extended period of state and federal election contests.