Pauline Hanson has announced a significant restructuring of One Nation’s senior leadership, appointing former Scott Morrison adviser Chris Taylor as her new chief of staff while elevating long-time strategist James Ashby to the newly expanded position of Party Director.

The appointments mark one of the party’s most significant organisational changes in recent years and come as One Nation prepares for a busy electoral cycle that includes upcoming state elections and the next federal campaign.

Under the new structure, Chris Taylor will oversee Senator Hanson’s parliamentary office and help finalise the party’s policy platform, while James Ashby will concentrate on campaign operations, candidate recruitment, fundraising and organisational strategy across Australia.

Taylor brings more than two decades of experience across government, law and the private sector.

He previously served as general counsel and senior adviser to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing advice on legislative, industrial relations and regulatory matters. More recently, he worked as Chief of Policy at the Australian Banking Association, where he represented the banking sector on major economic and financial policy issues.

Announcing the appointment, Pauline Hanson said One Nation was building its strongest team yet as growing public support placed greater expectations on the party.

“Australians are asking more of us than ever before,” Senator Hanson said, adding that the major parties had “stopped listening to regular Australians” and that One Nation intended to present itself as a credible alternative government voice ahead of future elections.

Taylor said he was looking forward to joining the party at a pivotal time.

“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 after commencing in the role.

While Taylor assumes responsibility for the parliamentary office and policy development, the organisational changes allow James Ashby to step away from the administrative demands associated with being chief of staff.

Instead, Ashby will focus exclusively on expanding One Nation’s national political operation, coordinating election campaigns, recruiting candidates, strengthening local branches and overseeing advertising and digital strategy.

Party insiders describe the move as an effort to professionalise One Nation’s campaign structure as it prepares for multiple elections over the next two years.

Ashby has been Pauline Hanson’s closest political adviser since 2015 and has played a central role in rebuilding the party’s organisational structure after previous internal upheavals.

In recent years he has overseen candidate selection, campaign logistics, fundraising and media operations, while also serving as leader of One Nation’s Queensland division.

Under his new responsibilities, Ashby is expected to spend considerably more time travelling throughout Australia supporting campaign teams and identifying prospective candidates.

Political observers have also speculated that he could eventually contest a parliamentary seat himself, although no formal announcement has been made.

“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 added that his priority would be building the organisation’s campaign capacity ahead of upcoming elections rather than remaining tied to parliamentary administration.

The leadership changes come as One Nation seeks to convert improving opinion poll results into stronger electoral performance.

Recent Newspoll figures have suggested rising support for the party, encouraging Hanson to invest more heavily in policy development, campaign infrastructure and candidate recruitment.

According to reports, One Nation has also attracted a number of former Coalition donors, campaign staff and political operatives in recent months as it attempts to broaden its organisational base.

The appointments also coincide with a demanding election calendar.

One Nation is preparing for the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia later this month, Victoria’s state election in November and the New South Wales state election scheduled for March.

Senior party figures also believe preparations for the next federal election should already be well underway given ongoing speculation about the political timetable.

Chris Taylor’s appointment is widely seen as an attempt to strengthen the party’s policy credibility.

Having worked across government, the legal profession and one of Australia’s largest industry associations, he brings experience in drafting legislation, regulatory reform and economic policy that differs from the campaign-focused expertise traditionally associated with One Nation’s senior advisers.

Supporters argue that combination of policy development and campaign strategy could better position the party as it seeks to expand beyond protest politics and appeal to a broader section of voters.

Political analysts note that smaller parties often face the challenge of balancing electoral momentum with organisational capacity.

As parliamentary representation grows, demands increase for detailed policy development, stronger governance structures and more sophisticated election operations.

The latest appointments suggest One Nation is attempting to address those challenges by separating policy responsibilities from campaign management.

Whether the restructuring translates into stronger electoral results remains to be seen, but the changes represent a notable evolution in the party’s internal organisation.

For Pauline Hanson, the appointments reflect an effort to prepare One Nation for a period of sustained electoral competition rather than isolated campaigns.

With Chris Taylor overseeing parliamentary operations and policy while James Ashby directs the party’s national campaign machine, One Nation is positioning itself for what it expects will be an increasingly competitive political landscape over the coming years.